Compare towns
Rochester vs Sutton vs Fairlee 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%).
Sutton has the most kids (17.3% under 18).
Fairlee has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Sutton | Fairlee | Hancock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,389Highest |
790 |
1,066 |
435Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5% VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
33.8±11.6Lowest 22% below VT |
| Fairlee 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% |
17.3%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
17.2%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Sutton 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% |
21.6%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee 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% |
32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
34.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.6 VT: 7% |
| Fairlee and Hancock 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 |
$71,250±$18kLowest 12% below VT |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
$76,250±$34kHighest 6% below VT |
| Hancock and Fairlee 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 |
$231,100±$41k 27% below VT |
$274,200±$39kHighest 13% below VT |
$187,900±$11kLowest 41% below VT |
| Fairlee 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 |
— | $1,083±$242Highest 12% below VT |
$939±$19 24% below VT |
| Fairlee and Hancock 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 |
$3,975 21% below VT |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
$3,511Lowest 30% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee 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% |
12.4% VT: 10.1% |
14.7% VT: 10.1% |
5.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85% VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
24 minLowest 3% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Fairlee 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 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Rivendell Interstate School District | — |
| 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.