Compare towns
Hancock vs Rochester vs Mendon
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 youngest population (median age 33.8).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
Mendon has the most expensive homes ($357k median).
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 | Rochester | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 435Lowest |
1,389Highest |
1,113 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 33.8±11.6Lowest 22% below VT |
53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
| Mendon and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±5.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Hancock and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Rochester and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49% VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.6Highest VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Hancock and Mendon 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 |
$72,676±$8kLowest 11% below VT |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
| Mendon and Hancock 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 |
$253,600±$81k 20% below VT |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
| Mendon and Rochester 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 |
$929±$158Lowest 25% below VT |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
| Mendon and Hancock 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 |
$3,977 21% below VT |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon 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% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 17% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Mendon 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 |
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.