Compare towns
Rochester vs Stratton vs Strafford
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%).
Stratton has the youngest population (median age 31.5).
Strafford has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Stratton | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,389Highest |
532Lowest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.3±7.6Highest 24% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
| Rochester and Strafford 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% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Strafford 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% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49% VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Strafford 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 |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
| Stratton and Strafford 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 |
$400,000±$50k 26% above VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford and Stratton 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 |
$1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
| Stratton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,977Lowest 21% below VT |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
| Rochester and Strafford 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% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Strafford 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 | — | Strafford 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.