Compare towns
Orwell vs Hancock vs Strafford
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 highest household income ($111k).
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 | Orwell | Hancock | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,294 |
435Lowest |
1,372Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.5±7 10% above VT |
33.8±11.6Lowest 22% below VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
| Strafford and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
17.2%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Orwell and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.3% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.6 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
$76,250±$34k 6% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,600±$25k 6% above VT |
$187,900±$11kLowest 41% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,105±$51 10% below VT |
$939±$19Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,125±$789Highest 9% below VT |
| Strafford and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,914 22% below VT |
$3,511Lowest 30% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% VT: 73.2% |
59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 15% above VT |
28 minHighest 17% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Strafford and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None 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.