Compare towns

Whiting vs Ripton vs Wolcott 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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Ripton has the most expensive homes ($394k median).
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.

MeasureWhitingRiptonWolcottHancock
People
Population
532
508
1,507Highest
435Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-0.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
—
Median age
39.6±2.7
8% below VT
47.7±14.2Highest
11% above VT
42.4±5.9
about the VT average
33.8±11.6Lowest
22% below VT
Ripton and Wolcott 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%
22.8%±5.2
VT: 17.9%
17.2%±5.8
VT: 17.9%
Whiting and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
13%±5.1
VT: 21.4%
30.5%±7.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
11.1%±2.4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
19.8%±3.6
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+
25.9%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
48%Highest
VT: 43.8%
31.1%
VT: 43.8%
34.3%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.2%±4
VT: 7%
20.1%±6.3Highest
VT: 7%
3.4%±2.1Lowest
VT: 7%
3.7%±3.6
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$91,250±$38k
12% above VT
$112,917±$15kHighest
39% above VT
$70,259±$10kLowest
13% below VT
$76,250±$34k
6% 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
$280,400±$36k
11% below VT
$394,400±$61kHighest
25% above VT
$221,300±$23k
30% below VT
$187,900±$11kLowest
41% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,204±$519Highest
about the VT average
—
$1,059±$118
14% below VT
$939±$19Lowest
24% below VT
Whiting and Wolcott 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
$4,915Highest
about the VT average
$3,930
22% below VT
$3,511Lowest
30% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
58.3%±37.3
VT: 48.4%
52.9%±100
VT: 48.4%
75.7%±21.8Highest
VT: 48.4%
3.5%±16.9Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Wolcott and Whiting 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%
9.3%
VT: 10.1%
5.6%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
65.4%
VT: 73.2%
90.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
79.5%
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
1983Highest
7 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
13% above VT
28 minHighest
17% above VT
Work from home
10%±5.4Lowest
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
13.9%±4.2
VT: 16.9%
11.7%±5
VT: 16.9%
Ripton and Wolcott 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 Wolcott School District —
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.