Compare towns
Stratton vs Jay vs Brookline 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).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
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 | Jay | Brookline | Hancock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 532Highest |
471 |
531 |
435Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
33.8±11.6 22% below VT |
| Jay and Brookline 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% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20%±6 VT: 17.9% |
17.2%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Brookline 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% |
15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Hancock and Brookline 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% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41.1% VT: 43.8% |
34.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Hancock and Brookline 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 |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
$76,250±$34k 6% below VT |
| Stratton and Brookline 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 |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
$187,900±$11kLowest 41% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$979 about the VT average |
— | $1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$939±$19Lowest 24% below VT |
| Brookline and Stratton 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 |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$5,000Highest about the VT average |
$3,511Lowest 30% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Brookline and Jay 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% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.2% VT: 10.1% |
5.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.3% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 12 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 39% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
28 min 21% above VT |
28 minLowest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — | — |
| 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.