Compare towns
Poultney vs Benson vs Stratton vs Hancock
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Poultney has the youngest population (median age 28.2).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Stratton has the most expensive homes ($400k median).
Hancock has the shortest commute (28 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 | Poultney | Benson | Stratton | Hancock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,033Highest |
784 |
532 |
435Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -33.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | — |
| Median age | 28.2±4.5Lowest 35% below VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
31.5±4.1 27% below VT |
33.8±11.6 22% below VT |
| Benson and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.8%±5 VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.2%±5.8 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+ | 21.1%±6.6 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Poultney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.2% VT: 43.8% |
34.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 22.1%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,536±$11kLowest 13% below VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$76,250±$34k 6% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,600±$43k 38% below VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$187,900±$11kLowest 41% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $868±$113Lowest 30% below VT |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
$939±$19 24% below VT |
| Stratton and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,450Lowest 32% below VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
$4,750Highest 6% below VT |
$3,511 30% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.2%±12.4 VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Poultney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.3% VT: 73.2% |
59.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 33% above VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
28 minLowest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.3%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Hancock 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.