Compare towns
Derby vs Randolph vs Rochester vs Westminster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Derby has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Randolph has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.1%).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
Westminster has the most kids (18.2% under 18).
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 | Derby | Randolph | Rochester | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,537 |
4,843Highest |
1,389Lowest |
2,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% VT: +2.8% |
-0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5% VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.6±2.1 20% above VT |
40.4±7.4Lowest 6% below VT |
53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
| Westminster and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
22.9%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Rochester and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
40.8% VT: 43.8% |
49%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.1 VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,250±$8kHighest about the VT average |
$76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
$72,676±$8k 11% below VT |
$71,491±$4kLowest 12% below VT |
| Derby and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $225,000±$10kLowest 29% below VT |
$278,700±$38kHighest 12% below VT |
$253,600±$81k 20% below VT |
$273,800±$35k 14% below VT |
| Randolph and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$118 11% below VT |
$1,172±$173Highest 5% below VT |
$929±$158 25% below VT |
$916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
| Randolph and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,449Lowest 32% below VT |
$4,698Highest 7% below VT |
$3,977 21% below VT |
$4,063 19% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±18.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Rochester and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% VT: 73.2% |
67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 38% above VT |
21 minLowest 12% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Westminster 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 | #52 of 70 in VT | #55 of 70 in VT | — | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Randolph Union High School | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.4Lowest |
— | 10.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.