Compare towns
Hancock vs Stratton vs Wells
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).
Stratton has the most expensive homes ($400k median).
Wells has the oldest population (median age 50.7).
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 435Lowest |
532 |
1,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +5.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 33.8±11.6 22% below VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest 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%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wells 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.2% VT: 43.8% |
29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Hancock and Wells 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 |
$75,417±$11kLowest 7% 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±$11kLowest 41% below VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$243,000±$42k 23% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $939±$19Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,208±$979 about the VT average |
$1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
| Wells and Stratton 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 |
$4,750Highest 6% below VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wells 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% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
73.3% VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 17% above VT |
33 min 39% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5Highest VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Hancock and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| 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.