Compare towns
Hancock vs Sheldon vs Strafford vs Goshen
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 renters (40.5% rent).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Strafford has the highest household income ($111k).
Goshen has the oldest population (median age 58.9).
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 | Strafford | Goshen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435 |
2,267Highest |
1,372 |
142Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 33.8±11.6Lowest 22% below VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
58.9±8.3Highest 37% above VT |
| Goshen and Strafford 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
10.6%±11.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Strafford 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%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
37.3%±11.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
42.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.6 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
0%±10Lowest VT: 7% |
| Strafford 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 |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$56,250±$33kLowest 31% below VT |
| Strafford 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 |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$330,000±$115k 4% above VT |
| Strafford 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 |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
— |
| Sheldon and Strafford 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 |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$5,240 4% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 3.5%±16.9 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Highest VT: 48.4% |
— |
| Strafford 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
100%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 17% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±9.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Strafford and Sheldon 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 | Strafford School District | — |
| 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.