Compare towns
Belvidere vs Hancock vs Stratton vs Waterville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Belvidere has the most homeowners (86.1%).
Hancock has the most people working from home (11.7%).
Stratton has the most expensive homes ($400k median).
Waterville has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
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 | Belvidere | Hancock | Stratton | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 422Lowest |
435 |
532 |
680Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.7±6.5 6% below VT |
33.8±11.6 22% below VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
| Waterville and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±4 VT: 17.9% |
17.2%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 8.8%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4 VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Hancock and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.3% VT: 43.8% |
33.2% VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.3 VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.6 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Waterville and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,563±$18k about the VT average |
$76,250±$34k 6% below VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
| Stratton and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $239,200±$51k 24% below VT |
$187,900±$11kLowest 41% below VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,542±$1kHighest 25% above VT |
$939±$19Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,208±$979 about the VT average |
$1,110±$93 10% below VT |
| Belvidere and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908 22% below VT |
$3,511Lowest 30% below VT |
$4,750Highest 6% below VT |
$3,957 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±53.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Belvidere and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.5% VT: 10.1% |
5.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
73.3% VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1988 12 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 60% above VT |
28 minLowest 17% above VT |
33 min 39% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.4%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±5Highest VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3 VT: 16.9% |
| Hancock and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | — | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| 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.