Compare towns
Hancock vs Dover 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 renters (40.5% rent).
Dover has the most people working from home (23.2%).
Stratton has the highest household income ($123k).
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 | Dover | Stratton | Orleans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435Lowest |
1,466Highest |
532 |
809 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 33.8±11.6 22% below VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
41.7±5.8 3% below VT |
| Dover and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.9%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Orleans 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% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover 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% |
48.9%Highest 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%±2.9 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 |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$57,159±$10k 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 |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$156,300±$18kLowest 51% below VT |
| Stratton and Dover 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 |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
$810±$94 34% below VT |
| Stratton 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 |
$4,510 10% 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% |
38.1%±17.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
27.3%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Dover 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% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.3% VT: 73.2% |
64.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer 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 |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
31 min 33% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
8.3%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Dover and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | — | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | — |
| 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.