Compare towns
Stratton vs Athens vs Hancock
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stratton has the most expensive homes ($400k median).
Athens has the most people working from home (19.3%).
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 | Stratton | Athens | Hancock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 532Highest |
431Lowest |
435 |
| Median age | 31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
47.3±6.5Highest 10% above VT |
33.8±11.6 22% below VT |
| Athens and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±6.5Lowest 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+ | 11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Athens and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.2% VT: 43.8% |
30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
4.9%±3Highest VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.6 VT: 7% |
| Athens and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$68,438±$30kLowest 16% below 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 | $400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$240,400±$32k 24% below VT |
$187,900±$11kLowest 41% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
$1,125±$537 9% below VT |
$939±$19Lowest 24% below VT |
| Stratton and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,750 6% below VT |
$5,438Highest 8% above VT |
$3,511Lowest 30% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
43.5%±39Highest VT: 48.4% |
3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Athens and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.3% VT: 73.2% |
73.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 39% above VT |
36 minHighest 53% above VT |
28 minLowest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
| Athens and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| 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.