Compare towns
Whiting vs Sheldon 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
Whiting has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Sheldon has the most homeowners (89%).
Hancock has the most affordable homes ($188k median).
Stratton has the most expensive homes ($400k 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 | Whiting | Sheldon | Hancock | Stratton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 532 |
2,267Highest |
435Lowest |
532 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.5% VT: +2.8% |
— | — |
| Median age | 39.6±2.7 8% below VT |
40.9±3.5Highest 5% below VT |
33.8±11.6 22% below VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
| Sheldon and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±6.9 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
17.2%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest 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+ | 13%±5.1 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Hancock and Whiting 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% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.6 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest 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 | $91,250±$38k 12% above VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$76,250±$34kLowest 6% below VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
| Stratton and Whiting 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 |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$187,900±$11kLowest 41% below VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$519 about the VT average |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$939±$19Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,208±$979 about the VT average |
| Sheldon and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,227 16% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$3,511Lowest 30% below VT |
$4,750Highest 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.3%±37.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
3.5%±16.9 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Whiting and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
5.6% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.4% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
73.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 7% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 10%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Sheldon 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 | 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.