Compare towns
Whiting vs Stratton vs Rochester vs Hancock
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Whiting has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Stratton has the most expensive homes ($400k median).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
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 | Whiting | Stratton | Rochester | Hancock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 532 |
532 |
1,389Highest |
435Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -3.5% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 39.6±2.7 8% below VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
53.3±7.6Highest 24% above VT |
33.8±11.6 22% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±6.9 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.2%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13%±5.1 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.2% VT: 43.8% |
49%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8 VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.6 VT: 7% |
| Whiting and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,250±$38k 12% above VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$72,676±$8kLowest 11% below VT |
$76,250±$34k 6% below VT |
| Stratton and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$253,600±$81k 20% below VT |
$187,900±$11kLowest 41% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$519 about the VT average |
$1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
$929±$158Lowest 25% below VT |
$939±$19 24% below VT |
| Stratton and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,227 16% below VT |
$4,750Highest 6% below VT |
$3,977 21% below VT |
$3,511Lowest 30% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.3%±37.3 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Rochester and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.5% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.4% VT: 73.2% |
73.3% VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 7% below VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 10%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | — | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.