Compare towns
Hancock vs Reading 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).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
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 | Reading | Poultney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 435Lowest |
699 |
1,033Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-33.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 33.8±11.6 22% below VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
28.2±4.5Lowest 35% below VT |
| Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.8%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Reading 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 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±6.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
38.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.6 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
22.1%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,250±$34k 6% below VT |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$70,536±$11kLowest 13% below VT |
| Reading 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 |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$196,600±$43k 38% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $939±$19 24% below VT |
$1,100±$331Highest 11% below VT |
$868±$113Lowest 30% below VT |
| Reading 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 |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$3,450Lowest 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
23.2%±12.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading 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% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
11.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.5% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
56.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 4 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 17% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
31 min 33% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading 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 |
| School district | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| 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.