Compare towns
Chittenden vs Nelson vs Rochester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chittenden has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.7%).
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
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 | Nelson | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,318 |
648Lowest |
1,389Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±6.3 31% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
53.3±7.6Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Rochester and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.8%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chittenden and Nelson 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 32% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23k 24% above U.S. |
$72,676±$8kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Chittenden and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,800±$35kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$340,900±$49k about the U.S. average |
$253,600±$81kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Chittenden and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$488 20% below U.S. |
$1,203±$243Highest 15% below U.S. |
$929±$158Lowest 34% below U.S. |
| Nelson and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,346 71% above U.S. |
$5,575Highest 79% above U.S. |
$3,977Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.8%±55.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.4%±27.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rochester and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8 U.S.: 15.1% |
40.8%±27.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rochester and Nelson 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 | Nelson School District | 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 | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.