Compare towns
Hancock vs Sheldon vs Goshen vs Stratton
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 affordable homes ($188k median).
Sheldon has the most people working from home (13%).
Goshen has the oldest population (median age 58.9).
Stratton has the highest household income ($123k).
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 | Sheldon | Goshen | Stratton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435 |
2,267Highest |
142Lowest |
532 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.5% VT: +2.8% |
— | — |
| Median age | 33.8±11.6 22% below VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
58.9±8.3Highest 37% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
10.6%±11.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Sheldon 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% |
12.6%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
37.3%±11.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
42.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.6Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
0%±10Lowest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8 VT: 7% |
| Hancock and Sheldon 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 |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$56,250±$33kLowest 31% below VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
| Stratton and Sheldon 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 |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$330,000±$115k 4% above VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
| Stratton and Goshen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $939±$19Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
— | $1,208±$979 about the VT average |
| Sheldon and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,511Lowest 30% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$5,240Highest 4% above VT |
$4,750 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 3.5%±16.9 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
— | 12%±69.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Stratton and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
100%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±9.3 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Sheldon and Goshen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — | — |
| High school 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.