Compare towns
Hancock vs Athens vs Whiting
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%).
Whiting has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
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 | Whiting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 435 |
431Lowest |
532Highest |
| Median age | 33.8±11.6Lowest 22% below VT |
47.3±6.5Highest 10% above VT |
39.6±2.7 8% below VT |
| Athens and Whiting 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% |
23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting 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% |
13%±5.1Lowest 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% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.6Lowest VT: 7% |
4.9%±3 VT: 7% |
6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Whiting and Athens 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 |
$91,250±$38kHighest 12% above VT |
| Whiting 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 |
$280,400±$36kHighest 11% below VT |
| Whiting and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $939±$19Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,125±$537 9% below VT |
$1,204±$519Highest about the VT average |
| Whiting 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 |
$4,227 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.5%±39 VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Whiting and Athens 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% |
11.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
73.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
36 minHighest 53% above VT |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Athens and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| 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.