Compare towns
Hancock vs Reading vs Whiting vs Orleans
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 youngest population (median age 33.8).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Whiting has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Orleans has the most affordable homes ($156k median).
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 | Whiting | Orleans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435Lowest |
699 |
532 |
809Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 33.8±11.6Lowest 22% below VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
39.6±2.7 8% below VT |
41.7±5.8 3% below VT |
| Reading and Orleans 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% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.9%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting and Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3% VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.9% VT: 43.8% |
24.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.6 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
3.7%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Whiting and Hancock 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 |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$91,250±$38kHighest 12% above VT |
$57,159±$10kLowest 30% below VT |
| Whiting and Reading 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 |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
$156,300±$18kLowest 51% below VT |
| Reading and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $939±$19 24% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,204±$519Highest about the VT average |
$810±$94Lowest 34% below VT |
| Whiting and Reading 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 |
$4,227 16% below VT |
$3,019Lowest 40% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3 VT: 48.4% |
27.3%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Whiting 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% |
11.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.4% VT: 73.2% |
64.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
31 min 33% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
8.3%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.