Compare towns
Hancock vs Athens vs Stratton
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 most affordable homes ($188k median).
Athens has the most people working from home (19.3%).
Stratton has the most expensive homes ($400k 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 | Stratton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 435 |
431Lowest |
532Highest |
| Median age | 33.8±11.6 22% below VT |
47.3±6.5Highest 10% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
| Athens and Hancock 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% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton 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% |
11.7%±4Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.6 VT: 7% |
4.9%±3Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest 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±$34k 6% below VT |
$68,438±$30kLowest 16% below VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above 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 | $187,900±$11kLowest 41% below VT |
$240,400±$32k 24% below VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $939±$19Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,125±$537 9% below VT |
$1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
| Stratton and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,511Lowest 30% below VT |
$5,438Highest 8% above VT |
$4,750 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.5%±39Highest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Athens and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% VT: 10.1% |
12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
73.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 17% above VT |
36 minHighest 53% above VT |
33 min 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest 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 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.