Compare towns
Hancock vs Jay vs Rupert 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%).
Rupert has the most expensive homes ($363k median).
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 | Rupert | Poultney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435Lowest |
471 |
676 |
1,033Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2% VT: +2.8% |
-33.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 33.8±11.6 22% below VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
57.8±9.7Highest 34% above VT |
28.2±4.5Lowest 35% below VT |
| Rupert and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±5.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.8%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Hancock and Poultney 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% |
42.3%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±6.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.6%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% |
2.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
22.1%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,250±$34k 6% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$88,229±$36kHighest 9% above VT |
$70,536±$11kLowest 13% below VT |
| Rupert 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±$11kLowest 41% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$362,500±$63kHighest 14% above VT |
$196,600±$43k 38% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $939±$19Highest 24% below VT |
— | — | $868±$113Lowest 30% below VT |
| Hancock and Poultney 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 |
$4,594Highest 9% 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% |
20%±100 VT: 48.4% |
23.2%±12.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Jay and Poultney 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% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
11.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.5% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
93.7% 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 |
1955 21 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 |
27 minLowest 14% above VT |
31 min 33% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±9.2 VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Rupert 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 | — | — |
| 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.