Compare towns
Whiting vs Smithville vs Hancock
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Whiting has the most expensive homes ($280k median).
Smithville has the most homeowners (81.7%).
Hancock has the most people working from home (11.7%).
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 | Smithville | Hancock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 532 |
1,525Highest |
435Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.6±2.7 about the U.S. average |
43.1±3.2Highest 11% above U.S. |
33.8±11.6Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Smithville and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Whiting and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hancock and Smithville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±5.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Whiting and Smithville 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 13% above U.S. |
$70,433±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$76,250±$34k 6% below U.S. |
| 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±$36kHighest 16% below U.S. |
$173,200±$42kLowest 48% below U.S. |
$187,900±$11k 44% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$519Highest 15% below U.S. |
$889±$186Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$939±$19 34% below U.S. |
| Whiting and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,227 36% above U.S. |
$4,254Highest 36% above U.S. |
$3,511Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.3%±37.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±31.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
3.5%±16.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whiting and Smithville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hancock and Whiting 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 History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.