Compare towns
Rochester vs Jay 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%).
Jay has the most homeowners (97%).
Hancock has the youngest population (median age 33.8).
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 | Rochester | Jay | Hancock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,389Highest |
471 |
435Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 53.3±7.6Highest 24% above VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
33.8±11.6Lowest 22% below VT |
| Rochester and Jay 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% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
17.2%±5.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Hancock and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
34.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Hancock and Jay 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 |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$76,250±$34kHighest 6% below VT |
| Hancock and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $253,600±$81kHighest 20% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$187,900±$11kLowest 41% below VT |
| Rochester and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $929±$158Lowest 25% below VT |
— | $939±$19Highest 24% 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 | $3,977Highest 21% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$3,511Lowest 30% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Rochester and Jay 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% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
5.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 17% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Jay 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 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — |
| High school in town | None 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.