Compare towns
Hancock vs Orleans 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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Orleans has the oldest population (median age 41.7).
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 | Orleans | Poultney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 435Lowest |
809 |
1,033Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-33.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 33.8±11.6 22% below VT |
41.7±5.8Highest 3% below VT |
28.2±4.5Lowest 35% below VT |
| Orleans and Hancock 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% |
17.9%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.8%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Orleans 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% |
19.7%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±6.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Poultney 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% |
24.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
38.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.6Lowest VT: 7% |
3.7%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
22.1%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,250±$34kHighest 6% below VT |
$57,159±$10kLowest 30% below VT |
$70,536±$11k 13% below VT |
| Hancock and Poultney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $187,900±$11k 41% below VT |
$156,300±$18kLowest 51% below VT |
$196,600±$43kHighest 38% below VT |
| Poultney and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $939±$19Highest 24% below VT |
$810±$94Lowest 34% below VT |
$868±$113 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 | $3,511Highest 30% below VT |
$3,019Lowest 40% below VT |
$3,450 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
27.3%±17.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
23.2%±12.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Orleans 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% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
11.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.5% VT: 73.2% |
64.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
56.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 4 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 17% above VT |
31 minHighest 33% above VT |
31 minHighest 33% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.3%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Hancock and Poultney 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 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.