Compare towns

Stratton vs Castleton vs Dover 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 highest household income ($123k).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Dover has the most people working from home (23.2%).
Hancock has the most renters (40.5% rent).

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.

MeasureStrattonCastletonDoverHancock
People
Population
532
4,453Highest
1,466
435Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-5.5%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+60%Highest
VT: +2.8%
—
Median age
31.5±4.1Lowest
27% below VT
38.3±4.3
11% below VT
53.5±8.3Highest
24% above VT
33.8±11.6
22% below VT
Kids under 18
28%±7.4Highest
VT: 17.9%
18.8%±6.4
VT: 17.9%
10.2%±5.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
17.2%±5.8
VT: 17.9%
Stratton and Castleton 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%
20.7%±4.6
VT: 21.4%
29.5%±6.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
19.8%±3.6
VT: 21.4%
Dover and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
33.2%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
37.9%
VT: 43.8%
48.9%Highest
VT: 43.8%
34.3%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.3%±2.8Lowest
VT: 7%
19.3%±1.8Highest
VT: 7%
2.5%±2.9
VT: 7%
3.7%±3.6
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$122,708±$33kHighest
51% above VT
$73,854±$23k
9% below VT
$52,313±$7kLowest
36% 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
$224,800±$71k
29% below VT
$332,900±$55k
5% above VT
$187,900±$11kLowest
41% below VT
Stratton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,208±$979Highest
about the VT average
$1,137±$195
8% below VT
$670±$49Lowest
46% below VT
$939±$19
24% below VT
Stratton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,750Highest
6% below VT
$3,167Lowest
37% below VT
$4,510
10% below VT
$3,511
30% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
12%±69.8
VT: 48.4%
67.7%±21.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
38.1%±17.2
VT: 48.4%
3.5%±16.9Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Castleton and Dover 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%
12.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
7.3%
VT: 10.1%
5.6%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.3%
VT: 73.2%
79%
VT: 73.2%
81.1%Highest
VT: 73.2%
59.5%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988Highest
12 yrs newer than VT
1974
2 yrs older than VT
1984
8 yrs newer than VT
1972Lowest
4 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
39% above VT
19 minLowest
17% below VT
22 min
6% below VT
28 min
17% above VT
Work from home
3.3%±3.5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
6.2%±3.9
VT: 16.9%
23.2%±11.1Highest
VT: 16.9%
11.7%±5
VT: 16.9%
Dover 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 — #39 of 70 in VT — —
School district — Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 River Valleys Unified School District #73 —
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.