Compare towns
Hancock vs Athens vs Orleans
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hancock has the youngest population (median age 33.8).
Athens has the most people working from home (19.3%).
Orleans has the most affordable homes ($156k 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 | Athens | Orleans |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 435 |
431Lowest |
809Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -3.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 33.8±11.6Lowest 22% below VT |
47.3±6.5Highest 10% above VT |
41.7±5.8 3% below VT |
| Athens and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.9%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Orleans and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Athens and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.3% VT: 43.8% |
24.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.6Lowest VT: 7% |
4.9%±3Highest VT: 7% |
3.7%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Athens and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,250±$34kHighest 6% below VT |
$68,438±$30k 16% below VT |
$57,159±$10kLowest 30% below VT |
| Hancock and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $187,900±$11k 41% below VT |
$240,400±$32kHighest 24% below VT |
$156,300±$18kLowest 51% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $939±$19 24% below VT |
$1,125±$537Highest 9% below VT |
$810±$94Lowest 34% below VT |
| Athens and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,511 30% below VT |
$5,438Highest 8% above VT |
$3,019Lowest 40% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.5%±39Highest VT: 48.4% |
27.3%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Athens and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
73.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
64.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1973Highest 3 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 17% above VT |
36 minHighest 53% above VT |
31 min 33% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.3%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Athens and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.