Compare towns
Hancock vs Brandon vs Stratton vs Orleans
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 people working from home (11.7%).
Brandon has the oldest population (median age 50.1).
Stratton has the most expensive homes ($400k median).
Orleans has the most affordable homes ($156k 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 | Brandon | Stratton | Orleans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435Lowest |
4,120Highest |
532 |
809 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 33.8±11.6 22% below VT |
50.1±3.1Highest 16% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
41.7±5.8 3% below VT |
| Brandon and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.9%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Brandon 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% |
22.3%±4.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Brandon 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% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
33.2% VT: 43.8% |
24.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.7 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
3.7%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,250±$34k 6% below VT |
$64,180±$12k 21% below VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$57,159±$10kLowest 30% below 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±$11k 41% below VT |
$227,800±$23k 28% below VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$156,300±$18kLowest 51% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $939±$19 24% below VT |
$1,064±$225 14% below VT |
$1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
$810±$94Lowest 34% below VT |
| Stratton and Brandon 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 |
$4,241 16% below VT |
$4,750Highest 6% below VT |
$3,019Lowest 40% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.7%±15.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
27.3%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Brandon and Orleans 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% |
14.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.3% VT: 73.2% |
64.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1951 25 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
31 min 33% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
8.3%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Hancock and Brandon 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 | — | #69 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | — | — |
| High school in town | — | Otter Valley Union High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9 |
— | — |
| 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.