Compare towns
Hancock vs Stratton vs Whitingham 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 most affordable homes ($188k median).
Stratton has the highest household income ($123k).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
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 | Stratton | Whitingham | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435Lowest |
532 |
1,368 |
1,389Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 33.8±11.6 22% below VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
46.4±7.1 8% above VT |
53.3±7.6Highest 24% above VT |
| Rochester and Whitingham 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% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Whitingham 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% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Rochester and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3% VT: 43.8% |
33.2% VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9 VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Hancock and Whitingham 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 |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$70,625±$11kLowest 13% below VT |
$72,676±$8k 11% below VT |
| Stratton 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 |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$262,300±$30k 17% below VT |
$253,600±$81k 20% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $939±$19 24% below VT |
$1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
$673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
$929±$158 25% below VT |
| Stratton 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 |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$5,055Highest about the VT average |
$3,977 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Whitingham and Rochester 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% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.5% VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
73.3% VT: 73.2% |
85.2% VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
33 min 39% above VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
27 minLowest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest 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 | — | — | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| High school in town | — | — | Twin Valley Middle High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.8 |
— |
| 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.