Compare towns
Hancock vs Calais vs Stratton vs Rochester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hancock has the most affordable homes ($188k median).
Calais has the most homeowners (92.4%).
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
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 | Hancock | Calais | Stratton | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435Lowest |
1,713Highest |
532 |
1,389 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 33.8±11.6 22% below VT |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
53.3±7.6Highest 24% above VT |
| Rochester and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.6 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8 VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Calais and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,250±$34k 6% below VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$72,676±$8kLowest 11% below VT |
| Stratton and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $187,900±$11kLowest 41% below VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$253,600±$81k 20% below VT |
| Stratton and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $939±$19 24% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,208±$979 about the VT average |
$929±$158Lowest 25% below VT |
| Calais and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,511Lowest 30% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$3,977 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Rochester and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.3% VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
27 minLowest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| 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.