Compare towns

Poultney vs Stratton vs Wardsboro vs Whiting

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 most affordable homes ($197k median).
Stratton has the highest household income ($123k).
Wardsboro has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
Whiting has the shortest commute (22 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.

MeasurePoultneyStrattonWardsboroWhiting
People
Population
1,033Highest
532Lowest
820
532Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-33.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
—
-3.4%Highest
VT: +2.8%
—
Median age
28.2±4.5Lowest
35% below VT
31.5±4.1
27% below VT
51.6±7.3Highest
20% above VT
39.6±2.7
8% below VT
Kids under 18
16.8%±5Lowest
VT: 17.9%
28%±7.4Highest
VT: 17.9%
18.8%±6.5
VT: 17.9%
23.5%±6.9
VT: 17.9%
Stratton and Whiting 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%
11.7%±4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
27.4%±3.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
13%±5.1
VT: 21.4%
Wardsboro 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%
VT: 43.8%
33.2%
VT: 43.8%
38.9%Highest
VT: 43.8%
25.9%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
22.1%±3.3Highest
VT: 7%
1.3%±2.8
VT: 7%
0.9%±0.9Lowest
VT: 7%
6.2%±4
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$70,536±$11k
13% below VT
$122,708±$33kHighest
51% above VT
$62,000±$6kLowest
24% below VT
$91,250±$38k
12% above VT
Stratton and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$196,600±$43kLowest
38% below VT
$400,000±$50kHighest
26% above VT
$299,300±$47k
5% below VT
$280,400±$36k
11% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$868±$113Lowest
30% below VT
$1,208±$979
about the VT average
$1,479±$224Highest
20% above VT
$1,204±$519
about the VT average
Wardsboro 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
$4,750Highest
6% below VT
$4,345
14% below VT
$4,227
16% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
23.2%±12.4
VT: 48.4%
12%±69.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
54.5%±58
VT: 48.4%
58.3%±37.3Highest
VT: 48.4%
Whiting and Wardsboro 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%
0%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
7.7%
VT: 10.1%
11.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
56.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
73.3%
VT: 73.2%
90.4%Highest
VT: 73.2%
65.4%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1988Highest
12 yrs newer than VT
1978
2 yrs newer than VT
1975
1 yr older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
33% above VT
33 minHighest
39% above VT
27 min
14% above VT
22 minLowest
7% below VT
Work from home
11.3%±3.5
VT: 16.9%
3.3%±3.5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
13.3%±5.1Highest
VT: 16.9%
10%±5.4
VT: 16.9%
Wardsboro 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 — — —
School district — — River Valleys Unified School District #73 Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53
High school in town — — None 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.