Compare towns
Rochester vs Sheldon vs Hancock vs Braintree
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%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Hancock has the most renters (40.5% rent).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
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 | Sheldon | Hancock | Braintree |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,389 |
2,267Highest |
435Lowest |
1,026 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
33.8±11.6Lowest 22% below VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.2%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.3% VT: 43.8% |
30.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| Hancock and Sheldon 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 |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$76,250±$34k 6% below VT |
$79,803±$5kHighest about the VT average |
| Braintree and Sheldon 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 |
$272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
$187,900±$11kLowest 41% below VT |
$217,700±$28k 31% below VT |
| Sheldon 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 |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$939±$19 24% below VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
| Sheldon and Hancock 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 |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$3,511Lowest 30% below VT |
$3,908 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
3.5%±16.9 VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Rochester and Braintree 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% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.6% VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
28 minHighest 17% above VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Braintree 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — | 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.