Compare towns
Rochester vs White River Junction 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%).
White River Junction has the shortest commute (15 min average).
Hancock has the most affordable homes ($188k median).
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 | White River Junction | Hancock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,389 |
3,364Highest |
435Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 53.3±7.6Highest 24% above VT |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
33.8±11.6 22% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±5 VT: 17.9% |
17.2%±5.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Hancock and White River Junction 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% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49%Highest VT: 43.8% |
38.9% VT: 43.8% |
34.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1 VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Hancock and White River Junction 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 |
$77,168±$4kHighest 5% below VT |
$76,250±$34k 6% below VT |
| White River Junction and Hancock 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 |
$278,800±$78kHighest 12% below VT |
$187,900±$11kLowest 41% below VT |
| White River Junction 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 |
$1,222±$216Highest about the VT average |
$939±$19 24% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,977 21% below VT |
$5,651Highest 12% above VT |
$3,511Lowest 30% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Rochester and White River Junction 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% |
12.1% VT: 10.1% |
5.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
59.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
1972Highest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
28 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and White River Junction 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 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.