Compare towns

Cavendish vs Chittenden vs Rochester

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cavendish has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.8%).
Chittenden has the most expensive homes ($347k median).
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.

MeasureCavendishChittendenRochester
People
Population
1,242Lowest
1,318
1,389Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.8%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-1.7%
VT: +2.8%
-3.5%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
45.2±5.9Lowest
5% above VT
50.8±6.3
18% above VT
53.3±7.6Highest
24% above VT
Rochester and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.3%±4.8Highest
VT: 17.9%
13.8%±2.5
VT: 17.9%
10.4%±3.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Cavendish and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.6%±2
VT: 21.4%
21.8%±4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
31.5%±3.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
39.3%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
51.5%Highest
VT: 43.8%
49%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±1.9Highest
VT: 7%
3.8%±1.6
VT: 7%
0.4%±0.6Lowest
VT: 7%
Cavendish and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$89,063±$29k
10% above VT
$106,250±$28kHighest
31% above VT
$72,676±$8kLowest
11% below VT
Chittenden and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$285,100±$40k
10% below VT
$346,800±$35kHighest
10% above VT
$253,600±$81kLowest
20% below VT
Chittenden and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,000±$546
19% below VT
$1,125±$488Highest
9% below VT
$929±$158Lowest
25% below VT
Chittenden and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,948Lowest
22% below VT
$5,346Highest
6% above VT
$3,977
21% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
28.9%±27
VT: 48.4%
14.8%±55.7Lowest
VT: 48.4%
62.4%±27.8Highest
VT: 48.4%
Rochester and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.3%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
6.6%
VT: 10.1%
18.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.3%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
93.5%Highest
VT: 73.2%
86.1%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968
8 yrs older than VT
1980Highest
4 yrs newer than VT
1967Lowest
9 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
21% below VT
28 minHighest
21% above VT
27 min
17% above VT
Work from home
18.5%±6.6
VT: 16.9%
15%±3.6Lowest
VT: 16.9%
40.8%±27.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
Rochester and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Green Mountain Unified School District #77 Barstow Unified Union School District #49 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 18 photos → 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.