Compare towns

Ripton vs Brandon vs Hancock

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ripton has the most expensive homes ($394k median).
Brandon has the most kids (19.2% under 18).
Hancock has the most renters (40.5% rent).

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.

MeasureRiptonBrandonHancock
People
Population
508
4,120Highest
435Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+4.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
—
Median age
47.7±14.2
11% above VT
50.1±3.1Highest
16% above VT
33.8±11.6Lowest
22% below VT
Brandon and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
11.8%±6.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
19.2%±4.3Highest
VT: 17.9%
17.2%±5.8
VT: 17.9%
Brandon and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
30.5%±7.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
22.3%±4.1
VT: 21.4%
19.8%±3.6Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Ripton and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48%Highest
VT: 43.8%
32.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
34.3%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
20.1%±6.3Highest
VT: 7%
2.5%±1.7Lowest
VT: 7%
3.7%±3.6
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$112,917±$15kHighest
39% above VT
$64,180±$12kLowest
21% below VT
$76,250±$34k
6% below 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
$394,400±$61kHighest
25% above VT
$227,800±$23k
28% below VT
$187,900±$11kLowest
41% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,064±$225Highest
14% below VT
$939±$19Lowest
24% below VT
Brandon and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,915Highest
about the VT average
$4,241
16% below VT
$3,511Lowest
30% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.9%±100Highest
VT: 48.4%
41.7%±15.1
VT: 48.4%
3.5%±16.9Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Ripton and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.6%
VT: 10.1%
14.2%Highest
VT: 10.1%
5.6%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
84.3%
VT: 73.2%
59.5%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973Highest
3 yrs older than VT
1951Lowest
25 yrs older than VT
1972
4 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
about the VT average
24 minLowest
about the VT average
28 minHighest
17% above VT
Work from home
17.2%±8.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
9.9%±5.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
11.7%±5
VT: 16.9%
Ripton and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #69 of 70 in VT —
School district Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 —
High school in town None in town Otter Valley Union High School —
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.9
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.