Compare towns
Stratton vs Ryegate vs Hancock vs Wardsboro
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).
Ryegate has the oldest housing (typical home built 1949).
Hancock has the most renters (40.5% rent).
Wardsboro has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
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 | Ryegate | Hancock | Wardsboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 532 |
1,059Highest |
435Lowest |
820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -0.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
41.2±2.6 4% below VT |
33.8±11.6 22% below VT |
51.6±7.3Highest 20% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
23.2%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
17.2%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Ryegate 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% |
22.1%±1.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.2% VT: 43.8% |
29.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.3% VT: 43.8% |
38.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±2.8 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.4 VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.6Highest VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Hancock and Ryegate 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 |
$66,484±$15k 18% below VT |
$76,250±$34k 6% below VT |
$62,000±$6kLowest 24% 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 |
$219,300±$32k 31% below VT |
$187,900±$11kLowest 41% below VT |
$299,300±$47k 5% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$979 about the VT average |
$908±$236Lowest 26% below VT |
$939±$19 24% below VT |
$1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
| Wardsboro and Stratton 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 |
$3,472Lowest 31% below VT |
$3,511 30% below VT |
$4,345 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
55.9%±29.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58 VT: 48.4% |
| Ryegate and Wardsboro 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% |
14.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.6% VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.3% VT: 73.2% |
84.7% VT: 73.2% |
59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1949Lowest 27 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 39% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
27 minLowest 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
8.2%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Wardsboro and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | — | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| 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.