Compare towns
Benson vs Hancock vs Poultney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Hancock has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Poultney has the youngest population (median age 28.2).
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 | Benson | Hancock | Poultney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784 |
435Lowest |
1,033Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -33.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
33.8±11.6 22% below VT |
28.2±4.5Lowest 35% below VT |
| Benson and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.2%±5.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.8%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Hancock and Poultney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±6.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Poultney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.3% VT: 43.8% |
38.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.6Lowest VT: 7% |
22.1%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8kHighest 3% below VT |
$76,250±$34k 6% below VT |
$70,536±$11kLowest 13% below VT |
| Benson and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26kHighest 24% below VT |
$187,900±$11kLowest 41% below VT |
$196,600±$43k 38% below VT |
| Benson and Poultney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT |
$939±$19 24% below VT |
$868±$113Lowest 30% below VT |
| Benson and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125Highest 18% below VT |
$3,511 30% below VT |
$3,450Lowest 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
23.2%±12.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Poultney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.6% VT: 10.1% |
11.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
59.5% VT: 73.2% |
56.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 35% above VT |
28 minLowest 17% above VT |
31 min 33% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Benson 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 | — | — | #41 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| 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.