Compare towns
Hancock vs Castleton vs Franconia
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hancock has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Franconia has the most expensive homes ($530k median).
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 | Hancock | Castleton | Franconia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,791 |
4,453Highest |
1,060Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±4.5 38% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
55.6±7Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Franconia and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
36.6%±6.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Franconia and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±5.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,208±$15kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$87,292±$28k 8% above U.S. |
| Hancock and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$22k 31% above U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$530,300±$96kHighest 59% above U.S. |
| Franconia and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$650 15% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,281±$278Highest 9% below U.S. |
| Franconia and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,884 121% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$7,451Highest 139% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.4%±55.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±74.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Franconia and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
20 min 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±3.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.9%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hancock and Franconia 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 | Contoocook Valley School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Lafayette Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.