Compare towns
Chittenden vs Olean vs North Hero 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 highest household income ($106k).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
North Hero has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.9%).
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 | Olean | North Hero | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,318 |
13,738Highest |
1,263Lowest |
1,389 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±6.3 31% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
54.2±6.7Highest 39% above U.S. |
53.3±7.6 37% above U.S. |
| North Hero and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.8%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Olean and North Hero are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rochester and North Hero 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
49% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| North Hero 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 32% above U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$102,143±$24k 27% above U.S. |
$72,676±$8k 10% below U.S. |
| Chittenden and North Hero 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. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$451,400±$66kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$253,600±$81k 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$488 20% below U.S. |
$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,556±$360Highest 10% above U.S. |
$929±$158 34% below U.S. |
| North Hero 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. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$5,132 65% above U.S. |
$3,977 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.8%±55.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.3%±98.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.4%±27.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rochester and North Hero 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% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.4%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
40.8%±27.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rochester and North Hero 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 | — | #337 of 484 in NY | — | — |
| School district | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Champlain Islands Unified Union School District #66 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| High school in town | None in town | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.