Compare towns

Poultney vs Fairlee 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).
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).
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.

MeasurePoultneyFairleeHancock
People
Population
1,033
1,066Highest
435Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-33.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+1.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
—
Median age
28.2±4.5Lowest
35% below VT
56.2±8.7Highest
30% above VT
33.8±11.6
22% below VT
Kids under 18
16.8%±5
VT: 17.9%
12.2%±4.2Lowest
VT: 17.9%
17.2%±5.8Highest
VT: 17.9%
Hancock and Poultney 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%
33.4%±5.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
19.8%±3.6Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
38.4%
VT: 43.8%
46.5%Highest
VT: 43.8%
34.3%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
22.1%±3.3Highest
VT: 7%
5.3%±3.7
VT: 7%
3.7%±3.6Lowest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$70,536±$11kLowest
13% below VT
$74,760±$10k
8% below VT
$76,250±$34kHighest
6% below VT
Hancock and Fairlee 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
$274,200±$39kHighest
13% below VT
$187,900±$11kLowest
41% below VT
Fairlee 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
$1,083±$242Highest
12% below VT
$939±$19
24% below VT
Fairlee and Hancock 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
$5,617Highest
11% above VT
$3,511
30% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
23.2%±12.4
VT: 48.4%
89.2%±71.3Highest
VT: 48.4%
3.5%±16.9Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Fairlee and Poultney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.4%
VT: 10.1%
14.7%Highest
VT: 10.1%
5.6%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
56.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
80.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
59.5%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1972Highest
4 yrs older than VT
1972Highest
4 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
33% above VT
24 minLowest
3% above VT
28 min
17% above VT
Work from home
11.3%±3.5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
15%±7.9Highest
VT: 16.9%
11.7%±5
VT: 16.9%
Fairlee 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 — Rivendell Interstate School District —
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.