Compare towns
Chittenden vs Bridgewater vs Rochester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chittenden has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.7%).
Bridgewater has the most affordable homes ($218k 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.
| Measure | Chittenden | Bridgewater | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,318 |
980Lowest |
1,389Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.8±6.3Lowest 18% above VT |
57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
| Bridgewater and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.8%±2.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Chittenden and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.2%±0.7 VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Rochester and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
40.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bridgewater and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,250±$28kHighest 31% above VT |
$70,272±$3kLowest 13% below VT |
$72,676±$8k 11% below VT |
| Chittenden and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,800±$35kHighest 10% above VT |
$218,300±$55kLowest 31% below VT |
$253,600±$81k 20% below VT |
| Chittenden and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$488Highest 9% below VT |
$850±$778Lowest 31% below VT |
$929±$158 25% below VT |
| Chittenden and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,346Highest 6% above VT |
$3,418Lowest 32% below VT |
$3,977 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.8%±55.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
59.7%±39.1 VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Rochester and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.8% VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 21% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 15%±3.6 VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 | — | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| 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.