Compare towns
Hancock vs Braintree vs Poultney 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).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Poultney has the youngest population (median age 28.2).
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 | Braintree | Poultney | Stratton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435Lowest |
1,026 |
1,033Highest |
532 |
| 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 |
31.5±4.1 27% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.8%±5 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% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±6.6 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest 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% |
33.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.6 VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3 VT: 7% |
22.1%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,250±$34k 6% below VT |
$79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$70,536±$11kLowest 13% below VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $187,900±$11kLowest 41% below VT |
$217,700±$28k 31% below VT |
$196,600±$43k 38% below VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $939±$19 24% below VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$868±$113 30% below VT |
$1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
| Stratton 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 |
$3,908 22% below VT |
$3,450Lowest 32% below VT |
$4,750Highest 6% 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% |
12%±69.8 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% VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
11.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.5% VT: 73.2% |
81%Highest VT: 73.2% |
56.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
73.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
26 minLowest 11% above VT |
31 min 33% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±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 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.