Compare towns
Hancock vs Jay vs Windham 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).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Windham has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
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 | Windham | Stratton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435Lowest |
471 |
594Highest |
532 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.8% VT: +2.8% |
— | — |
| Median age | 33.8±11.6 22% below VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
| Jay and Windham 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% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Windham 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%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Windham 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% VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8 VT: 7% |
| Hancock and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,250±$34k 6% below VT |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
| Stratton and Windham 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 |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
| Stratton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $939±$19Lowest 24% 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 |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$4,750 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Highest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Windham and Jay 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% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1988 12 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
27 minLowest 14% above VT |
33 min 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| 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.