Compare towns
Stratton vs Hardwick 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).
Hardwick has the oldest population (median age 47.1).
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.
| Measure | Stratton | Hardwick | Hancock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 532 |
2,965Highest |
435Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
47.1±7.4Highest 9% above VT |
33.8±11.6 22% below VT |
| Hardwick 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% |
15.8%±4.4Lowest 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% |
27%±5.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Hardwick 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.7% VT: 43.8% |
34.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Hancock and Hardwick 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 |
$92,297±$17k 14% above VT |
$76,250±$34kLowest 6% below VT |
| Stratton and Hardwick 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 |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
$187,900±$11k 41% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
$875±$406Lowest 29% below VT |
$939±$19 24% below VT |
| Stratton and Hancock 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 |
$4,351 14% below VT |
$3,511Lowest 30% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Hardwick 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% |
9.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.3% VT: 73.2% |
76.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 39% above VT |
29 min 23% above VT |
28 minLowest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
| Hardwick 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 | — | #68 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | — |
| High school in town | — | Hazen Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6 |
— |
| 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.