Compare towns
Hancock vs Wayne vs Poultney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hancock has the most affordable homes ($188k median).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 62.6).
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 | Wayne | Poultney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 435Lowest |
1,033Highest |
1,033Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-33.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.8±11.6 13% below U.S. |
62.6±3.6Highest 61% above U.S. |
28.2±4.5Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.8%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Hancock and Poultney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
40.1%±6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±6.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
22.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,250±$34k 6% below U.S. |
$90,938±$17kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$70,536±$11kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Wayne 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 44% below U.S. |
$266,700±$150kHighest 20% below U.S. |
$196,600±$43k 41% below U.S. |
| Wayne and Poultney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $939±$19 34% below U.S. |
$1,031±$304Highest 27% below U.S. |
$868±$113Lowest 39% below U.S. |
| Wayne and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,511 13% above U.S. |
$3,967Highest 27% above U.S. |
$3,450Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 3.5%±16.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.2%±12.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wayne and Poultney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
56.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hancock and Poultney 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 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.