Compare towns
Hancock vs Highgate vs Troy 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 affordable homes ($188k median).
Highgate has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Troy has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Highgate | Troy | Stratton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435Lowest |
3,528Highest |
1,749 |
532 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 33.8±11.6 22% below VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
44.5±5.7Highest 3% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
| Troy and Highgate 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%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.4%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Troy 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% |
22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.7%±3 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate 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% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
20.2% VT: 43.8% |
33.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Hancock and Troy 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 |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$87,938±$11k 8% above VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
| Stratton and Troy 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 |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$233,200±$21k 26% below VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $939±$19 24% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
$646±$323Lowest 48% 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 |
$3,558 29% below VT |
$3,644 28% below VT |
$4,750Highest 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
30.8%±26.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Troy and Highgate 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% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
86.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±2.3 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate 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 | — | #43 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Troy School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— | — |
| 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.