Compare towns
Hancock vs Hanover vs Stratton vs Poultney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hancock has the oldest population (median age 33.8).
Hanover has the most people working from home (26.4%).
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
Poultney has the most renters (43.3% rent).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hanover | Stratton | Poultney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435Lowest |
11,685Highest |
532 |
1,033 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -33.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.8±11.6Highest 13% below U.S. |
28.7±5.1 26% below U.S. |
31.5±4.1 19% below U.S. |
28.2±4.5Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Hancock and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
28%±7.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.8%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Stratton 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.7%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±6.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Poultney 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
22.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,250±$34k 6% below U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$122,708±$33k 52% above U.S. |
$70,536±$11kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Hanover and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $187,900±$11kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$400,000±$50k 20% above U.S. |
$196,600±$43k 41% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $939±$19 34% below U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,208±$979 15% below U.S. |
$868±$113Lowest 39% below U.S. |
| Hanover and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,511 13% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,750 52% above U.S. |
$3,450Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 3.5%±16.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±69.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.2%±12.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
56.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #1 of 120 in NH | — | #41 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | — | — |
| High school in town | — | Hanover High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.