Compare towns
Hancock vs Wilder vs Stratton 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).
Wilder has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
Ripton has the most people working from home (17.2%).
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 | Wilder | Stratton | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435Lowest |
3,087Highest |
532 |
508 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | +25.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 33.8±11.6 22% below VT |
45.5±8.9 6% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below 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% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton 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% |
27.3%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest 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% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.6 VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,250±$34k 6% below VT |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
| Stratton and Ripton 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 |
$273,200±$18k 14% below VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
| Stratton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $939±$19Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,142±$451 7% below VT |
$1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
— |
| Stratton 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 |
$5,505Highest 9% above VT |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Wilder 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% |
9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
62.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.3% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
17 minLowest 29% below VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest 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 | — | — | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school 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.