Compare towns
Hancock vs Brighton vs Whiting
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 youngest population (median age 33.8).
Brighton has the oldest population (median age 45.2).
Whiting has the most expensive homes ($280k 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 | Brighton | Whiting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 435Lowest |
1,167Highest |
532 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -5.3% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 33.8±11.6Lowest 22% below VT |
45.2±11.6Highest 5% above VT |
39.6±2.7 8% below VT |
| Brighton and Whiting 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% |
18.3%±5.7 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting and Brighton 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% |
27.2%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Brighton 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% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.6Lowest VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Whiting and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,250±$34k 6% below VT |
$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
$91,250±$38kHighest 12% above VT |
| Whiting 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 |
$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
$280,400±$36kHighest 11% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $939±$19 24% below VT |
$775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
$1,204±$519Highest about the VT average |
| Whiting 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 |
$3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
$4,227Highest 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
55%±17 VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Whiting and Brighton 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% |
22%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.5% VT: 73.2% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
65.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Brighton and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Brighton School District | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.