Compare towns
Rochester vs Sheldon vs Stratton
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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Stratton has the highest household income ($123k).
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 | Stratton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,389 |
2,267Highest |
532Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 53.3±7.6Highest 24% above VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Sheldon 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% |
12.6%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8 VT: 7% |
| Sheldon and Stratton 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 |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
| Stratton 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±$81kLowest 20% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $929±$158Lowest 25% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,208±$979 about the VT average |
| Sheldon and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,977 21% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,750Highest 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Rochester and Stratton 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% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Sheldon 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 | — |
| 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.