Compare towns
Hancock vs Whiting vs Ripton vs Orleans
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).
Whiting has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Ripton has the most people working from home (17.2%).
Orleans has the most affordable homes ($156k 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 | Whiting | Ripton | Orleans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435Lowest |
532 |
508 |
809Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 33.8±11.6Lowest 22% below VT |
39.6±2.7 8% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
41.7±5.8 3% below VT |
| Ripton and Orleans 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% |
23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.9%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting and Orleans 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% |
13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Hancock 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% |
25.9% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
24.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.6Lowest VT: 7% |
6.2%±4 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.7%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,250±$34k 6% below VT |
$91,250±$38k 12% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$57,159±$10kLowest 30% below VT |
| Ripton and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $187,900±$11k 41% below VT |
$280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$156,300±$18kLowest 51% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $939±$19 24% below VT |
$1,204±$519Highest about the VT average |
— | $810±$94Lowest 34% below VT |
| Whiting and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,511 30% below VT |
$4,227 16% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,019Lowest 40% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
27.3%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Whiting and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
65.4% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
64.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
31 minHighest 33% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.3%±3.7Lowest 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 | — | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.