Compare towns
Hancock vs Orwell 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).
Orwell has the oldest population (median age 47.5).
Stratton has the highest household income ($123k).
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 | Orwell | Stratton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 435Lowest |
1,294Highest |
532 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -0.9% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 33.8±11.6 22% below VT |
47.5±7Highest 10% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
| Orwell and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Orwell 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% |
24%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Orwell 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Hancock and Orwell 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 |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
| Stratton 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 |
$335,600±$25k 6% above VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
| Stratton and Orwell 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 |
$1,105±$51 10% below VT |
$1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
| Stratton and Orwell 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 |
$3,914 22% below VT |
$4,750Highest 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell 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% |
10.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
27 minLowest 15% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Orwell and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| 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.