Compare towns
Hancock vs Reading vs Whiting 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).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($377k median).
Whiting has the most kids (23.5% 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 | Reading | Whiting | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435Lowest |
699 |
532 |
1,389Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 33.8±11.6Lowest 22% below VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
39.6±2.7 8% below VT |
53.3±7.6Highest 24% above VT |
| Rochester and Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting and Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Rochester and Reading 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% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.6 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest 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 | $76,250±$34k 6% below VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$91,250±$38kHighest 12% above VT |
$72,676±$8kLowest 11% below VT |
| Whiting and Reading 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 |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
$253,600±$81k 20% below VT |
| Reading and Whiting 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 |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,204±$519Highest about the VT average |
$929±$158Lowest 25% below VT |
| Whiting and Reading 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 |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,227 16% below VT |
$3,977 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3 VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
11.5% VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
65.4% VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| High school in town | — | None 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.