Compare towns
Dover vs Hancock vs Panton vs Stratton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has the oldest population (median age 53.5).
Hancock has the most affordable homes ($188k median).
Panton has the most people working from home (26.7%).
Stratton has the highest household income ($123k).
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 | Dover | Hancock | Panton | Stratton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466Highest |
435Lowest |
690 |
532 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -4.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
33.8±11.6 22% below VT |
42.7±3.8 about the VT average |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
| Dover and Panton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.2%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
24.9%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Panton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
16.7%±2.9 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.3% VT: 43.8% |
35.1% VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Hancock and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$76,250±$34k 6% below VT |
$86,667±$10k 7% above VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
| Stratton and Panton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$187,900±$11kLowest 41% below VT |
$438,000±$40kHighest 38% above VT |
$400,000±$50k 26% above VT |
| Panton and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$939±$19 24% below VT |
$1,410±$130Highest 14% above VT |
$1,208±$979 about the VT average |
| Panton and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510 10% below VT |
$3,511Lowest 30% below VT |
$6,695Highest 33% above VT |
$4,750 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
61%±39Highest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Panton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.6% VT: 10.1% |
3.2% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
83.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±8.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Panton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | — | — | — |
| 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.