Compare towns
Hancock vs Sheldon vs Whiting 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 most affordable homes ($188k median).
Sheldon has the most homeowners (89%).
Whiting has the highest household income ($91k).
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 | Sheldon | Whiting | Poultney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435Lowest |
2,267Highest |
532 |
1,033 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -33.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 33.8±11.6 22% below VT |
40.9±3.5Highest 5% below VT |
39.6±2.7 8% below VT |
28.2±4.5Lowest 35% below VT |
| Sheldon and Whiting 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%±6.9 VT: 17.9% |
16.8%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Whiting 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% |
13%±5.1 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±6.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Poultney and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
25.9% VT: 43.8% |
38.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.6 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
6.2%±4 VT: 7% |
22.1%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,250±$34k 6% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$91,250±$38kHighest 12% above VT |
$70,536±$11kLowest 13% below VT |
| Whiting 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 |
$280,400±$36kHighest 11% below VT |
$196,600±$43k 38% below VT |
| Whiting and Sheldon 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 |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,204±$519 about the VT average |
$868±$113Lowest 30% below VT |
| Sheldon 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 |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$4,227Highest 16% below VT |
$3,450Lowest 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 3.5%±16.9 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
23.2%±12.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Whiting and Poultney 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% |
11.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.5% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.4% VT: 73.2% |
56.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
31 minHighest 33% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Sheldon 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 | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | 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.