Compare towns
Hancock vs Braintree 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 most affordable homes ($188k median).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
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 | Braintree | Poultney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 435Lowest |
1,026 |
1,033Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-33.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 33.8±11.6 22% below VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
28.2±4.5Lowest 35% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±5.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.8%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Hancock and Poultney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±6.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3% VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
38.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.6 VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
22.1%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,250±$34k 6% below VT |
$79,803±$5kHighest about the VT average |
$70,536±$11kLowest 13% below VT |
| Braintree 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 |
$217,700±$28kHighest 31% below VT |
$196,600±$43k 38% below VT |
| Braintree and Poultney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $939±$19Highest 24% below VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$868±$113 30% below VT |
| Hancock and Poultney 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 |
$3,908Highest 22% below VT |
$3,450Lowest 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
23.2%±12.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Braintree and Poultney 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% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
11.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.5% VT: 73.2% |
81%Highest VT: 73.2% |
56.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
26 minLowest 11% above VT |
31 minHighest 33% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Braintree 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 | — | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | — |
| 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.