Compare towns

Fairlee vs Leyden 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

Fairlee has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Leyden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
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.

MeasureFairleeLeydenRochester
People
Population
1,066
637Lowest
1,389Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
56.2±8.7Highest
44% above U.S.
53.2±8.2Lowest
37% above U.S.
53.3±7.6
37% above U.S.
Fairlee and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
12.2%±4.2
U.S.: 22%
13.8%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
10.4%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Leyden and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
33.4%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
28.6%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
31.5%±3.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Fairlee and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
46.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
40%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
49%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.3%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
0.5%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
0.4%±0.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Fairlee and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$74,760±$10k
7% below U.S.
$105,893±$13kHighest
31% above U.S.
$72,676±$8kLowest
10% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$274,200±$39k
18% below U.S.
$372,900±$24kHighest
12% above U.S.
$253,600±$81kLowest
24% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,083±$242
23% below U.S.
$1,917±$451Highest
36% above U.S.
$929±$158Lowest
34% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,617Highest
80% above U.S.
$4,651
49% above U.S.
$3,977Lowest
28% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
89.2%±71.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.9%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
62.4%±27.8
U.S.: 51.1%
Fairlee and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
14.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
10.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
18.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972
8 yrs older than U.S.
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1967Lowest
13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
8% below U.S.
33 minHighest
23% above U.S.
27 min
4% above U.S.
Work from home
15%±7.9
U.S.: 15.1%
11%±5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
40.8%±27.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Rochester and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Rivendell Interstate School District — 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

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.