Compare towns
Rochester vs Dummerston vs Braintree vs Hancock
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
Dummerston has the most expensive homes ($335k median).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Hancock has the most renters (40.5% rent).
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 | Rochester | Dummerston | Braintree | Hancock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,389 |
2,090Highest |
1,026 |
435Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
33.8±11.6Lowest 22% below VT |
| Braintree and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
17.2%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 31.5%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1 VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3 VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Hancock and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,676±$8kLowest 11% below VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$76,250±$34k 6% below VT |
| Dummerston and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $253,600±$81k 20% below VT |
$335,300±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
$217,700±$28k 31% below VT |
$187,900±$11kLowest 41% below VT |
| Dummerston and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $929±$158 25% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$939±$19 24% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,977 21% below VT |
$4,536Highest 10% below VT |
$3,908 22% below VT |
$3,511Lowest 30% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Rochester and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
5.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
28 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Dummerston 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 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | — |
| 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.