Compare towns
Castleton 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
Castleton has the most homeowners (79%).
Hancock has the most affordable homes ($188k median).
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 | Castleton | Hancock | Poultney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
435Lowest |
1,033 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -33.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Highest 11% below VT |
33.8±11.6 22% below VT |
28.2±4.5Lowest 35% below VT |
| Castleton and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.2%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
16.8%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±6.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Poultney and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% VT: 43.8% |
34.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
38.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.6Lowest VT: 7% |
22.1%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Poultney and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$76,250±$34kHighest 6% below VT |
$70,536±$11kLowest 13% below VT |
| 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±$71kHighest 29% below VT |
$187,900±$11kLowest 41% below VT |
$196,600±$43k 38% below VT |
| Castleton and Poultney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$939±$19 24% below VT |
$868±$113Lowest 30% below VT |
| Castleton and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,511Highest 30% below VT |
$3,450 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
23.2%±12.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Highest VT: 73.2% |
59.5% VT: 73.2% |
56.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
31 minHighest 33% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±5Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Hancock and Poultney 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 | — | — |
| 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.