Compare towns
Hancock vs Poultney vs Stratton vs Barton
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).
Poultney has the youngest population (median age 28.2).
Stratton has the most expensive homes ($400k median).
Barton has the most people working from home (16.5%).
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 | Poultney | Stratton | Barton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435Lowest |
1,033Highest |
532 |
730 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -33.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -6.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 33.8±11.6 22% below VT |
28.2±4.5Lowest 35% below VT |
31.5±4.1 27% below VT |
40±5.5Highest 7% below VT |
| Barton 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% |
16.8%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
24.1%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Barton 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% |
21.1%±6.6 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Barton and Poultney 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% |
38.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.2% VT: 43.8% |
21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.6 VT: 7% |
22.1%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
1.9%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,250±$34k 6% below VT |
$70,536±$11k 13% below VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$40,833±$8kLowest 50% below 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±$11k 41% below VT |
$196,600±$43k 38% below VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $939±$19 24% below VT |
$868±$113 30% below VT |
$1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
$761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
| Stratton and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,511 30% below VT |
$3,450 32% below VT |
$4,750Highest 6% below VT |
$3,185Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
23.2%±12.4 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
58.8%±18.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 5.6% VT: 10.1% |
11.4% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
25.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.5% VT: 73.2% |
56.7% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
52.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1945 31 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 17% above VT |
31 min 33% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.5%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Barton 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 | — | #38 of 70 in VT |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.