Compare towns
Whiting vs Orleans vs Leicester vs Hancock
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Whiting has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Orleans has the most affordable homes ($156k median).
Leicester has the most homeowners (85.5%).
Hancock has the youngest population (median age 33.8).
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 | Whiting | Orleans | Leicester | Hancock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 532 |
809 |
1,026Highest |
435Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-10%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 39.6±2.7 8% below VT |
41.7±5.8 3% below VT |
48.8±3.8Highest 13% above VT |
33.8±11.6Lowest 22% below VT |
| Leicester and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.9%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
14.9%±5.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.2%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±6.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Leicester and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.9% VT: 43.8% |
24.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
35.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
3.7%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.6 VT: 7% |
| Whiting and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,250±$38kHighest 12% above VT |
$57,159±$10kLowest 30% below VT |
$70,417±$30k 13% below VT |
$76,250±$34k 6% below VT |
| Whiting and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
$156,300±$18kLowest 51% below VT |
$309,700±$107kHighest about the VT average |
$187,900±$11k 41% below VT |
| Leicester and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$519Highest about the VT average |
$810±$94Lowest 34% below VT |
$1,098±$300 11% below VT |
$939±$19 24% below VT |
| Whiting and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,227Highest 16% below VT |
$3,019Lowest 40% below VT |
$3,822 24% below VT |
$3,511 30% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.3%±37.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
27.3%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
33.3%±40.4 VT: 48.4% |
3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Whiting and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.5% VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
11.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.4% VT: 73.2% |
64.1% VT: 73.2% |
85.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 7% below VT |
31 minHighest 33% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 10%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
8.3%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±5.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
| Leicester 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 Our Story | 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.