Compare towns
Chittenden vs Northbridge 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 the most homeowners (93.5%).
Northbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
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 | Northbridge | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,318Lowest |
16,458Highest |
1,389 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±6.3 31% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Lowest 13% 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% |
21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Northbridge 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±$28k 32% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$72,676±$8kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Northbridge and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,800±$35k 4% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$253,600±$81kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$488 20% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102Highest 15% below U.S. |
$929±$158Lowest 34% below U.S. |
| Northbridge and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,346Highest 71% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
$3,977Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.8%±55.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.4%±27.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rochester and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
40.8%±27.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rochester and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #226 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 | Northbridge | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| High school in town | None in town | Northbridge High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.8 |
— |
| 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.