Compare towns
Hancock vs Sheffield vs Whiting
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 most people working from home (11.7%).
Sheffield has the most kids (34.7% under 18).
Whiting has the most expensive homes ($280k 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 | Sheffield | Whiting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 435 |
190Lowest |
532Highest |
| Median age | 33.8±11.6 22% below VT |
32.5±2.3Lowest 25% below VT |
39.6±2.7Highest 8% below VT |
| Whiting and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
34.7%±13.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheffield and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
13.2%±14 VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Hancock and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
16.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
25.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.6 VT: 7% |
2.1%±5.8Lowest VT: 7% |
6.2%±4Highest 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 |
$65,795±$12kLowest 19% below VT |
$91,250±$38kHighest 12% above VT |
| Whiting 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 |
$122,700±$70kLowest 61% below VT |
$280,400±$36kHighest 11% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $939±$19Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,219±$563Highest about the VT average |
$1,204±$519 about the VT average |
| Sheffield and Whiting 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 |
$1,714Lowest 66% below VT |
$4,227Highest 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Whiting and Sheffield 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% |
8.9% VT: 10.1% |
11.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 17% above VT |
21 minLowest 12% below VT |
22 min 7% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.6%±6.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Hancock and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| 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.