Compare towns
Hancock vs Sandgate 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 youngest population (median age 33.8).
Sandgate has the most homeowners (94.3%).
Rochester has the most expensive homes ($254k 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 | Sandgate | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 435Lowest |
435Lowest |
1,389Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -3.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 33.8±11.6Lowest 22% below VT |
55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
| Sandgate 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% |
13.1%±7.5 VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Hancock and Sandgate 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% |
26%±11.3 VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Rochester and Sandgate 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% |
37.8% VT: 43.8% |
49%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4 VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Hancock and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,250±$34kHighest 6% below VT |
$69,167±$19kLowest 15% below VT |
$72,676±$8k 11% below VT |
| Hancock and Rochester 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 |
$193,800±$31k 39% below VT |
$253,600±$81kHighest 20% below VT |
| Rochester and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $939±$19Highest 24% below VT |
— | $929±$158Lowest 25% below VT |
| Hancock and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,511 30% below VT |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$3,977Highest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 3.5%±16.9 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 4 yrs older than VT |
1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 17% above VT |
27 minLowest 16% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
34.6%±32.4 VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Sandgate 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.