Compare towns
Stratton vs Vernon vs Sheldon 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).
Vernon has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Sheldon has the most homeowners (89%).
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 | Vernon | Sheldon | Hancock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 532 |
2,709Highest |
2,267 |
435Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
42.6±5.4Highest about the VT average |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
33.8±11.6 22% below VT |
| Vernon and Sheldon 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% |
15.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
17.2%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Sheldon 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% |
22.8%±2.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Vernon 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% |
26.6% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Hancock and Vernon 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 |
$85,682±$9k 6% above VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$76,250±$34kLowest 6% below VT |
| Stratton and Vernon 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 |
$285,100±$25k 10% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$187,900±$11kLowest 41% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$979 about the VT average |
$1,023±$214 17% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$939±$19Lowest 24% below VT |
| Sheldon 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 |
$5,191Highest 3% above VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$3,511Lowest 30% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
26.2%±3.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
3.5%±16.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Vernon 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% |
5.5% VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
5.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.3% VT: 73.2% |
76.2% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer 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 |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
6.4%±3.1 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
| Sheldon 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 | — | #30 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Vernon School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — |
| 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.