Compare towns
Hancock vs Whiting vs Wilder 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 most affordable homes ($188k median).
Whiting has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Wilder has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Whiting | Wilder | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435Lowest |
532 |
3,087Highest |
508 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 33.8±11.6Lowest 22% below VT |
39.6±2.7 8% below VT |
45.5±8.9 6% above VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
| Ripton and Wilder 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%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting and Hancock 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% |
27.3%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Wilder 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.6Lowest VT: 7% |
6.2%±4 VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,250±$34k 6% below VT |
$91,250±$38k 12% above VT |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above 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±$11kLowest 41% below VT |
$280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
$273,200±$18k 14% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $939±$19Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,204±$519Highest about the VT average |
$1,142±$451 7% below VT |
— |
| Whiting and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,511Lowest 30% below VT |
$4,227 16% below VT |
$5,505Highest 9% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 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% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
65.4% VT: 73.2% |
62.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 17% above VT |
22 min 7% below VT |
17 minLowest 29% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Wilder 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.