Compare towns
Bethel vs Rochester vs Tunbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bethel has the most affordable homes ($238k median).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
Tunbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
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 | Bethel | Rochester | Tunbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,736Highest |
1,389 |
1,253Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5% VT: +2.8% |
+4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.7±3.7 18% above VT |
53.3±7.6Highest 24% above VT |
42.7±8.3Lowest about the VT average |
| Rochester and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.1%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.9%±1.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Rochester and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49%Highest VT: 43.8% |
42.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.6 VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±2Highest VT: 7% |
| Tunbridge and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,822±$7k 7% below VT |
$72,676±$8kLowest 11% below VT |
$89,464±$26kHighest 10% above VT |
| Tunbridge and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,000±$41kLowest 25% below VT |
$253,600±$81k 20% below VT |
$315,300±$23kHighest about the VT average |
| Tunbridge and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,335±$220 8% above VT |
$929±$158Lowest 25% below VT |
$1,346±$128Highest 9% above VT |
| Tunbridge and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,168Highest about the VT average |
$3,977Lowest 21% below VT |
$4,645 8% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±22Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
76.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Tunbridge and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
14.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 19% above VT |
27 minLowest 17% above VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.1%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
25.8%±8.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Tunbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | White River Unified School District #79 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | First Branch Unified School District #82 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.