Compare towns
Wardsboro vs Hancock vs Stratton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wardsboro has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
Hancock has the most affordable homes ($188k median).
Stratton has the highest household income ($123k).
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 | Wardsboro | Hancock | Stratton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 820Highest |
435Lowest |
532 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% VT: +2.8% |
— | — |
| Median age | 51.6±7.3Highest 20% above VT |
33.8±11.6 22% below VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
| Wardsboro and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
17.2%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.3% VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8 VT: 7% |
| Hancock and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,000±$6kLowest 24% below VT |
$76,250±$34k 6% below VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above 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 | $299,300±$47k 5% below VT |
$187,900±$11kLowest 41% below VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
$939±$19Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,208±$979 about the VT average |
| Wardsboro and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,345 14% below VT |
$3,511Lowest 30% below VT |
$4,750Highest 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.5%±58Highest VT: 48.4% |
3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Wardsboro and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.6% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
73.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 14% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±5.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest 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 |
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.