Compare towns
Hancock vs Benson vs Stratton vs Poultney
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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Stratton has the most expensive homes ($400k median).
Poultney has the youngest population (median age 28.2).
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 | Benson | Stratton | Poultney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435Lowest |
784 |
532 |
1,033Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -7.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -33.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 33.8±11.6 22% below VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
31.5±4.1 27% below VT |
28.2±4.5Lowest 35% below VT |
| Benson 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% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.8%±5 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% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±6.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Poultney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3% VT: 43.8% |
32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.2% VT: 43.8% |
38.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.6 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
22.1%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,250±$34k 6% below VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$70,536±$11kLowest 13% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $187,900±$11kLowest 41% below VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$196,600±$43k 38% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $939±$19 24% below VT |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
$868±$113Lowest 30% below VT |
| Stratton and Benson 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 |
$4,125 18% below VT |
$4,750Highest 6% below VT |
$3,450Lowest 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
23.2%±12.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Poultney 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% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.5% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.3% VT: 73.2% |
56.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 17% above VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
31 min 33% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Hancock 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 | — | — | — | #41 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.