Compare towns
Hancock vs Sutton vs Waterville vs Ripton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hancock has the youngest population (median age 33.8).
Waterville has the most kids (20.4% under 18).
Ripton has the most expensive homes ($394k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Hancock | Sutton | Waterville | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435Lowest |
790Highest |
680 |
508 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 33.8±11.6Lowest 22% below VT |
46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
| Waterville and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Waterville and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3% VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.6 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,250±$34k 6% below VT |
$71,250±$18kLowest 12% below VT |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
| Ripton and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $187,900±$11kLowest 41% below VT |
$231,100±$41k 27% below VT |
$236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $939±$19Lowest 24% below VT |
— | $1,110±$93Highest 10% below VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,511Lowest 30% below VT |
$3,975 21% below VT |
$3,957 21% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% VT: 10.1% |
12.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85% VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.