Compare towns
Hancock vs Putnam vs Poultney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hancock has the most affordable homes ($188k median).
Putnam has the most homeowners (95.9%).
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 | Putnam | Poultney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 435Lowest |
540 |
1,033Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -6.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-33.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.8±11.6 13% below U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
28.2±4.5Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.8%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Putnam and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±6.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
22.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,250±$34k 6% below U.S. |
$92,344±$14kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$70,536±$11kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Putnam 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 44% below U.S. |
$266,200±$48kHighest 20% below U.S. |
$196,600±$43k 41% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Poultney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $939±$19Highest 34% below U.S. |
— | $868±$113Lowest 39% below U.S. |
| Hancock and Poultney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,511 13% above U.S. |
$3,674Highest 18% above U.S. |
$3,450Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 3.5%±16.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.2%±12.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Poultney and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
56.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 |
| School district | — | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.