Compare towns
Hancock vs Castleton 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 most affordable homes ($188k median).
Castleton has the most homeowners (79%).
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 | Castleton | Poultney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 435Lowest |
4,453Highest |
1,033 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -5.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-33.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 33.8±11.6 22% below VT |
38.3±4.3Highest 11% below VT |
28.2±4.5Lowest 35% below VT |
| Castleton and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.8%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Hancock 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% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±6.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Poultney and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
38.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.6Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
22.1%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Poultney and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,250±$34kHighest 6% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$70,536±$11kLowest 13% below VT |
| Hancock and Castleton 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 |
$224,800±$71kHighest 29% below VT |
$196,600±$43k 38% below VT |
| Castleton and Poultney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $939±$19 24% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$868±$113Lowest 30% below VT |
| Castleton and Hancock 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 |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,450 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
23.2%±12.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.5% VT: 73.2% |
79%Highest VT: 73.2% |
56.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
31 minHighest 33% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | #41 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| High school 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.