Compare towns
Stratton vs Peru vs Whiting 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 kids (28% under 18).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
Whiting has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Peru | Whiting | Hancock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 532Highest |
434Lowest |
532Highest |
435 |
| Median age | 31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
45.3±8.6Highest 5% above VT |
39.6±2.7 8% below VT |
33.8±11.6 22% below VT |
| Peru and Whiting 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% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9 VT: 17.9% |
17.2%±5.8 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+ | 11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.4%±5Highest VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1 VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Peru 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% |
54.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
1.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.6 VT: 7% |
| Whiting 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±$33k 51% above VT |
$151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
$91,250±$38k 12% above VT |
$76,250±$34kLowest 6% below VT |
| Peru and Stratton 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 |
$400,000±$105kHighest 26% above VT |
$280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
$187,900±$11kLowest 41% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$979 about the VT average |
$1,271±$820Highest about the VT average |
$1,204±$519 about the VT average |
$939±$19Lowest 24% below VT |
| Peru 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 |
$5,000Highest about the VT average |
$4,227 16% below VT |
$3,511Lowest 30% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
29%±47.8 VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Whiting and Peru 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% |
1.8% VT: 10.1% |
11.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.3% VT: 73.2% |
79%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.4% VT: 73.2% |
59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 39% above VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±16.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
| Peru and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | — |
| 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.