Compare towns
Hancock vs Bristol 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 most affordable homes ($188k median).
Bristol has the most people working from home (17.9%).
Whiting has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
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 | Bristol | Whiting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 435Lowest |
3,778Highest |
532 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.9% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 33.8±11.6Lowest 22% below VT |
47.9±4.8Highest 11% above VT |
39.6±2.7 8% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting 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% |
21.9%±4.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bristol 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% VT: 43.8% |
41.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.6Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±3.2 VT: 7% |
6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Whiting and Bristol 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 |
$74,620±$8kLowest 8% 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±$11kLowest 41% below VT |
$337,300±$46kHighest 7% above VT |
$280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
| Bristol and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $939±$19Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,275±$181Highest 3% above VT |
$1,204±$519 about the VT average |
| Bristol and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,511Lowest 30% below VT |
$5,978Highest 19% above VT |
$4,227 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Whiting and Bristol 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% |
10.1% VT: 10.1% |
11.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
71.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 17% above VT |
25 min 5% above VT |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Bristol 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 | — | #31 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | — | Mt. Abraham Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— |
| 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.