Compare towns
Whiting vs Ripton vs Middlesex vs Hancock
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Whiting has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Ripton has the oldest population (median age 47.7).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Hancock has the most affordable homes ($188k 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 | Whiting | Ripton | Middlesex | Hancock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 532 |
508 |
1,943Highest |
435Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 39.6±2.7 8% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
33.8±11.6Lowest 22% below VT |
| Ripton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
17.2%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,250±$38k 12% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$76,250±$34kLowest 6% below VT |
| Ripton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$187,900±$11kLowest 41% below VT |
| Ripton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$519 about the VT average |
— | $1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$939±$19Lowest 24% below VT |
| Middlesex and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,227 16% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$3,511Lowest 30% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.3%±37.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
3.5%±16.9 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 | 11.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.4% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 7% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
27 min 17% above VT |
28 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Ripton 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| 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.