Compare towns
Hancock vs Rochester vs Strafford
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%).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k 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 | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 435Lowest |
1,389Highest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 33.8±11.6Lowest 22% below VT |
53.3±7.6Highest 24% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
| Rochester and Strafford 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% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Hancock 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% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.6 VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Strafford 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 |
$72,676±$8kLowest 11% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford 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 |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $939±$19 24% below VT |
$929±$158Lowest 25% below VT |
$1,125±$789Highest 9% below VT |
| Strafford 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 |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
| Rochester and Strafford 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% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 17% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Strafford 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 | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.