Compare towns
Stockbridge vs Strafford vs Rochester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stockbridge has the oldest population (median age 55.3).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
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 | Stockbridge | Strafford | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 791Lowest |
1,372 |
1,389Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.3±5.3Highest 28% above VT |
51.4±4.7Lowest 19% above VT |
53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
| Stockbridge and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 9.9%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 27.9%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Rochester and Stockbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
49% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±1.2 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,109±$12k 5% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$72,676±$8kLowest 11% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $283,500±$26k 10% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$253,600±$81kLowest 20% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$126Highest 8% below VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$929±$158Lowest 25% below VT |
| Stockbridge and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,488 11% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$3,977Lowest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.3%±22 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Rochester and Stockbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 17% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 28.6%±12.2 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Stockbridge 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 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| 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 |
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.