Compare towns
Stratton vs Rochester vs Sheldon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stratton has the highest household income ($123k).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
Sheldon has the shortest commute (25 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 | Stratton | Rochester | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 532Lowest |
1,389 |
2,267Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
53.3±7.6Highest 24% above VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 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+ | 11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.2% VT: 43.8% |
49%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±2.8 VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Highest 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 | $122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$72,676±$8kLowest 11% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below 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 | $400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$253,600±$81kLowest 20% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$979 about the VT average |
$929±$158Lowest 25% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
| Sheldon and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,750Highest 6% below VT |
$3,977 21% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest 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 | 0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 39% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 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.