Compare towns
Poultney vs Orange 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).
Orange has the oldest population (median age 50.3).
Stratton has the most expensive homes ($400k median).
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.
| Measure | Poultney | Orange | Stratton | Hancock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,033Highest |
957 |
532 |
435Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -33.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | — |
| Median age | 28.2±4.5Lowest 35% below VT |
50.3±5.3Highest 17% above VT |
31.5±4.1 27% below VT |
33.8±11.6 22% below VT |
| Orange 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% |
15.6%±4.7Lowest 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%±6.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±4 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Poultney and Hancock 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% |
22.1%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% |
2.4%±1.9 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 |
$71,302±$13k 12% below VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$76,250±$34k 6% below VT |
| Stratton and Hancock 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 |
$222,000±$22k 30% below VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$187,900±$11kLowest 41% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $868±$113Lowest 30% below VT |
$1,330±$153Highest 8% above VT |
$1,208±$979 about the VT average |
$939±$19 24% below VT |
| Orange and Stratton 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 |
$3,545 30% below VT |
$4,750Highest 6% below VT |
$3,511 30% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.2%±12.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
3.5%±16.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Poultney and Stratton 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% |
7.6% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.3% VT: 73.2% |
59.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer 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 |
28 min 19% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
28 minLowest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.3%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
| Orange 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 | — | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | — | — |
| 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.