Compare towns
Hancock vs Jay vs Proctor 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).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Proctor has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
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 | Jay | Proctor | Poultney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435Lowest |
471 |
1,794Highest |
1,033 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-33.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 33.8±11.6 22% below VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
28.2±4.5Lowest 35% below VT |
| Jay and Proctor 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% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.8%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Proctor 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% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±6.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Proctor and Poultney 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% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
38.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.6 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
22.1%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,250±$34kHighest 6% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
$70,536±$11kLowest 13% below VT |
| Hancock and Jay 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 |
$234,200±$45kHighest 26% below VT |
$209,900±$17k 34% below VT |
$196,600±$43k 38% below VT |
| Jay and Proctor 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 |
— | $1,029±$202Highest 17% below VT |
$868±$113Lowest 30% below VT |
| Proctor 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 |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$4,032Highest 20% below VT |
$3,450Lowest 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
23.2%±12.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Jay and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.5% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
56.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
31 min 33% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay 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 | — | — | — | #41 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
— |
| 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.