Compare towns
Hancock vs Cornwall 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).
Cornwall has the most expensive homes ($458k median).
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 | Cornwall | Stratton | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435Lowest |
1,208 |
532 |
1,389Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 33.8±11.6 22% below VT |
50.4±4.6 17% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
53.3±7.6Highest 24% above VT |
| Rochester and Cornwall 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% |
18.7%±3 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Cornwall 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% |
25.7%±6.1 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Rochester and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8 VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,250±$34k 6% below VT |
$114,583±$32k 41% above VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$72,676±$8kLowest 11% below VT |
| Stratton and Cornwall 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 |
$458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
$400,000±$50k 26% above VT |
$253,600±$81k 20% below VT |
| Cornwall and Stratton 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 |
$1,125±$206 9% below VT |
$1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
$929±$158Lowest 25% below VT |
| Stratton and Cornwall 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 |
$6,726Highest 33% 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% |
61.9%±65.5 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Rochester and Cornwall 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% |
0.8% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.3%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 |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| High school in town | — | None 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.