Compare towns
Hancock vs Strafford vs Whiting 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).
Strafford has the most people working from home (16.1%).
Whiting has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
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 | Strafford | Whiting | Stratton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435Lowest |
1,372Highest |
532 |
532 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -0.4% VT: +2.8% |
— | — |
| Median age | 33.8±11.6 22% below VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
39.6±2.7 8% below VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton 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% |
22.1%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Strafford 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% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.6 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Whiting and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,250±$34kLowest 6% below VT |
$110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
$91,250±$38k 12% above VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
| Stratton and Strafford 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 |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
$400,000±$50k 26% above VT |
| Strafford and Stratton 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 |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,204±$519 about the VT average |
$1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
| Stratton and Whiting 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 |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$4,227 16% below VT |
$4,750 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Whiting and Strafford 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% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
11.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.4% VT: 73.2% |
73.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Strafford and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Strafford School District | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.