Compare towns
Hancock vs Middlebury 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).
Middlebury has the most people working from home (19.1%).
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
Middlebury is a college town. 40.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Middlebury | Stratton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 435Lowest |
7,220Highest |
532 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +10.9% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 33.8±11.6Highest 22% below VT |
23.7±1.3Lowest 45% below VT |
31.5±4.1 27% below VT |
| Hancock and Stratton 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% |
8.5%±1.7Lowest 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%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3% VT: 43.8% |
61.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.6 VT: 7% |
40.9%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,250±$34kLowest 6% below VT |
$86,250±$18k 6% above VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
| Stratton and Middlebury 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 |
$417,400±$31kHighest 32% above VT |
$400,000±$50k 26% above VT |
| Middlebury and Stratton 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 |
$1,201±$120 about the VT average |
$1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
| Stratton and Middlebury 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 |
$6,795Highest 35% above VT |
$4,750 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.6%±15.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Middlebury 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% |
15.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.5% VT: 73.2% |
56.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
15 minLowest 38% below VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlebury 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 | — | #17 of 70 in VT | — |
| 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.