Compare towns
Hancock vs Heath vs Stratton vs Rochester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hancock has the most affordable homes ($188k median).
Heath has the most homeowners (88.3%).
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 | Heath | Stratton | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435Lowest |
765 |
532 |
1,389Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.8±11.6 13% below U.S. |
53.8±11.9Highest 38% above U.S. |
31.5±4.1Lowest 19% below U.S. |
53.3±7.6 37% above U.S. |
| Heath and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
28%±7.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Stratton and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.6%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.7%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Heath and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hancock and Heath 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 U.S. |
$98,750±$23k 22% above U.S. |
$122,708±$33kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$72,676±$8kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Stratton and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $187,900±$11kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$295,000±$45k 11% below U.S. |
$400,000±$50kHighest 20% above U.S. |
$253,600±$81k 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $939±$19 34% below U.S. |
— | $1,208±$979Highest 15% below U.S. |
$929±$158Lowest 34% below U.S. |
| Stratton and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,511Lowest 13% above U.S. |
$4,438 42% above U.S. |
$4,750Highest 52% above U.S. |
$3,977 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 3.5%±16.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±69.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.4%±27.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rochester and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.7%±17.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
40.8%±27.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rochester and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | — | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| High school in town | — | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.