Compare towns
Castleton vs Hancock vs Stratton vs Wheelock
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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Hancock has the most renters (40.5% rent).
Stratton has the most expensive homes ($400k median).
Wheelock has the most people working from home (21.1%).
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 | Castleton | Hancock | Stratton | Wheelock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
435Lowest |
532 |
717 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | — | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
33.8±11.6 22% below VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
51±5.6Highest 18% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
17.2%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Castleton 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%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wheelock 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.3% VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.6 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$76,250±$34k 6% below VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below VT |
| Stratton and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$187,900±$11kLowest 41% below VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$189,600±$37k 40% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$939±$19Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
— |
| Stratton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167 37% below VT |
$3,511 30% below VT |
$4,750Highest 6% below VT |
$2,937Lowest 42% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
3.5%±16.9 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.6% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
73.3% VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1988 12 yrs newer than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Wheelock 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 | — | — | — |
| 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 | 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.