Compare towns
Hancock vs Sheldon vs Rochester 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).
Sheldon has the most homeowners (89%).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
Whiting has the highest household income ($91k).
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 | Sheldon | Rochester | Whiting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435Lowest |
2,267Highest |
1,389 |
532 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 33.8±11.6Lowest 22% below VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
53.3±7.6Highest 24% above VT |
39.6±2.7 8% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.6 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest 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 |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$72,676±$8kLowest 11% below VT |
$91,250±$38kHighest 12% above VT |
| Whiting and Sheldon 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 |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$253,600±$81k 20% below VT |
$280,400±$36kHighest 11% below VT |
| Whiting and Sheldon 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 |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$929±$158Lowest 25% below VT |
$1,204±$519 about the VT average |
| Sheldon 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 |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$3,977 21% below VT |
$4,227Highest 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 3.5%±16.9 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8Highest 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% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
65.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 17% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| 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.