Compare towns
Rochester vs Plainfield 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%).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($318k median).
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 | Plainfield | Hancock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,389Highest |
1,314 |
435Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 53.3±7.6Highest 24% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
33.8±11.6Lowest 22% below VT |
| Rochester and Plainfield 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% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
17.2%±5.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Hancock and Plainfield 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% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
34.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Hancock and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,676±$8k 11% below VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$76,250±$34kHighest 6% 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 | $253,600±$81k 20% below VT |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
$187,900±$11kLowest 41% below VT |
| Plainfield and Rochester 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 |
$1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
$939±$19 24% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,977 21% below VT |
$4,806Highest 5% below VT |
$3,511Lowest 30% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Rochester 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% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1972Highest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Plainfield 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 Our Story | 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.