Compare towns
Hancock vs Hardwick vs Stratton
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).
Hardwick has the oldest population (median age 47.1).
Stratton has the most expensive homes ($400k 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 | Hardwick | Stratton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 435Lowest |
2,965Highest |
532 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 33.8±11.6 22% below VT |
47.1±7.4Highest 9% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
| Hardwick 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% |
15.8%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| 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 VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Hardwick 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% |
33.7% VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Hancock and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,250±$34kLowest 6% below VT |
$92,297±$17k 14% above VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
| Stratton and Hardwick 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 |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $939±$19 24% below VT |
$875±$406Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
| Stratton and Hancock 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 |
$4,351 14% below VT |
$4,750Highest 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Hardwick and Stratton 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% |
9.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
76.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 17% above VT |
29 min 23% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6Highest VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Hardwick 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 | — | #68 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | — |
| High school in town | — | Hazen Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6 |
— |
| 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.