Compare towns
Castleton vs Hancock vs Poultney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Hancock has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Poultney has the youngest population (median age 34).
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 | Castleton | Hancock | Poultney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
752Lowest |
3,010 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-12%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
47.1±11.1Highest 21% above U.S. |
34±5.6Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Hancock and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hancock and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.8%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hancock and Poultney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.3%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$96,250±$26kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$72,617±$6kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Hancock and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$375,500±$21kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$206,200±$18kLowest 38% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,268±$415Highest 10% below U.S. |
$913±$84Lowest 35% below U.S. |
| Hancock and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167 about the U.S. average |
$1,018Lowest 67% below U.S. |
$3,520Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.1%±36.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±17.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.4%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Poultney 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | — | #41 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Hancock | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Poultney High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.