Compare towns
Hancock vs Stratton vs Wells River
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%).
Stratton has the most expensive homes ($400k median).
Wells River has the oldest population (median age 42.7).
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 | Stratton | Wells River |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 435 |
532Highest |
340Lowest |
| Median age | 33.8±11.6 22% below VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
42.7±12.7Highest about the VT average |
| Wells River and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Hancock 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% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Hancock and Wells River 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% |
33.2% VT: 43.8% |
16.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8 VT: 7% |
0.6%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Hancock and Stratton 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 |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$38,688±$5kLowest 52% below VT |
| Stratton 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 |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$170,800±$103kLowest 46% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $939±$19 24% below VT |
$1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
$900±$336Lowest 27% below VT |
| Stratton and Hancock 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 |
$4,750Highest 6% below VT |
$4,154 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
47.6%±14.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wells River and Stratton 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% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
38.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.5% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
47.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 17% above VT |
33 min 39% above VT |
34 minHighest 43% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5Highest VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
5.2%±9.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Hancock and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| 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.