Compare towns
Hancock vs Rochester vs Stratton vs Whiting
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).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
Stratton has the most expensive homes ($400k median).
Whiting has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Stratton | Whiting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435Lowest |
1,389Highest |
532 |
532 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.5% VT: +2.8% |
— | — |
| Median age | 33.8±11.6 22% below VT |
53.3±7.6Highest 24% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
39.6±2.7 8% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Whiting 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% |
31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3% VT: 43.8% |
49%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.2% VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.6 VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8 VT: 7% |
6.2%±4Highest 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 |
$72,676±$8kLowest 11% below VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$91,250±$38k 12% above VT |
| Stratton and Whiting 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 |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $939±$19 24% below VT |
$929±$158Lowest 25% below VT |
$1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
$1,204±$519 about the VT average |
| Stratton and Whiting 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 |
$4,750Highest 6% below VT |
$4,227 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Rochester and Whiting 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% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.3% VT: 73.2% |
65.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Hancock 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 | — | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| 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.