Compare towns
Hancock vs Stratton vs Whiting vs Wilder
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).
Wilder has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Whiting | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435Lowest |
532 |
532 |
3,087Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | +81.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 33.8±11.6 22% below VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
39.6±2.7 8% below VT |
45.5±8.9Highest 6% above VT |
| Wilder 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% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest 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% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1 VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder 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% |
33.2% VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.6 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
6.2%±4 VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
| Wilder and Whiting 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 |
$91,250±$38k 12% above VT |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below VT |
| Stratton and Whiting 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 |
$280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
$273,200±$18k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $939±$19Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
$1,204±$519 about the VT average |
$1,142±$451 7% below VT |
| 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 |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$4,227 16% below VT |
$5,505Highest 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Whiting and Wilder 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% |
11.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.4% VT: 73.2% |
62.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
22 min 7% below VT |
17 minLowest 29% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Wilder and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | — |
| High school 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.