Compare towns
Hancock vs Bridgewater 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 highest household income ($76k).
Bridgewater has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
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 | Bridgewater | Poultney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 435Lowest |
980 |
1,033Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-33.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 33.8±11.6 22% below VT |
57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
28.2±4.5Lowest 35% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±5.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±5.8Lowest 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% |
30.2%±0.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±6.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
40.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
38.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.6Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±3.8 VT: 7% |
22.1%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,250±$34kHighest 6% below VT |
$70,272±$3kLowest 13% below VT |
$70,536±$11k 13% below VT |
| Hancock and Poultney 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 |
$218,300±$55kHighest 31% below VT |
$196,600±$43k 38% below VT |
| Bridgewater 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 |
$850±$778Lowest 31% 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 | $3,511Highest 30% below VT |
$3,418Lowest 32% below VT |
$3,450 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
59.7%±39.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
23.2%±12.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Bridgewater 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% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.5% VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
56.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
31 minHighest 33% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Hancock and Poultney 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 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.