Compare towns

Poultney vs Castleton 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).
Castleton has the most homeowners (79%).
Hancock has the most affordable homes ($188k median).

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.

MeasurePoultneyCastletonHancock
People
Population
1,033
4,453Highest
435Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-33.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-5.5%Highest
VT: +2.8%
—
Median age
28.2±4.5Lowest
35% below VT
38.3±4.3Highest
11% below VT
33.8±11.6
22% below VT
Castleton and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.8%±5Lowest
VT: 17.9%
18.8%±6.4Highest
VT: 17.9%
17.2%±5.8
VT: 17.9%
Castleton and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.1%±6.6Highest
VT: 21.4%
20.7%±4.6
VT: 21.4%
19.8%±3.6Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Poultney and Castleton 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%
37.9%
VT: 43.8%
34.3%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
22.1%±3.3Highest
VT: 7%
19.3%±1.8
VT: 7%
3.7%±3.6Lowest
VT: 7%
Poultney and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$70,536±$11kLowest
13% below VT
$73,854±$23k
9% below VT
$76,250±$34kHighest
6% below VT
Hancock and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$196,600±$43k
38% below VT
$224,800±$71kHighest
29% below VT
$187,900±$11kLowest
41% below VT
Castleton and Poultney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$868±$113Lowest
30% below VT
$1,137±$195Highest
8% below VT
$939±$19
24% below VT
Castleton and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,450
32% below VT
$3,167Lowest
37% below VT
$3,511Highest
30% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
23.2%±12.4
VT: 48.4%
67.7%±21.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
3.5%±16.9Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Below poverty line
11.4%
VT: 10.1%
12.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
5.6%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
56.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
79%Highest
VT: 73.2%
59.5%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1974Highest
2 yrs older than VT
1972
4 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
33% above VT
19 minLowest
17% below VT
28 min
17% above VT
Work from home
11.3%±3.5
VT: 16.9%
6.2%±3.9Lowest
VT: 16.9%
11.7%±5Highest
VT: 16.9%
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 #39 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

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.