Compare towns

Hancock vs Plainfield 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 highest household income ($76k).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($318k 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.

MeasureHancockPlainfieldPoultney
People
Population
435Lowest
1,314Highest
1,033
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-0.6%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-33.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
33.8±11.6
22% below VT
48.1±5.5Highest
12% above VT
28.2±4.5Lowest
35% below VT
Plainfield and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.2%±5.8Highest
VT: 17.9%
16.3%±4.7Lowest
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%±3.6Lowest
VT: 21.4%
21.1%±3.5Highest
VT: 21.4%
21.1%±6.6Highest
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
34.3%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
48.2%Highest
VT: 43.8%
38.4%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±3.6
VT: 7%
2.1%±1.3Lowest
VT: 7%
22.1%±3.3Highest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$76,250±$34kHighest
6% below VT
$69,250±$31kLowest
15% 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±$11kLowest
41% below VT
$318,400±$34kHighest
about the VT average
$196,600±$43k
38% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$939±$19
24% below VT
$1,153±$103Highest
7% below VT
$868±$113Lowest
30% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,511
30% below VT
$4,806Highest
5% below VT
$3,450Lowest
32% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
3.5%±16.9Lowest
VT: 48.4%
73.2%±53.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
23.2%±12.4
VT: 48.4%
Plainfield 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%
11.6%Highest
VT: 10.1%
11.4%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
59.5%
VT: 73.2%
80.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
56.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972Highest
4 yrs older 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
24 minLowest
about the VT average
31 minHighest
33% above VT
Work from home
11.7%±5
VT: 16.9%
16.4%±4.4Highest
VT: 16.9%
11.3%±3.5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Plainfield 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 — — #41 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.