Compare towns

Goshen vs Reading vs Rochester

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Goshen has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Reading has the most kids (18.5% 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.

MeasureGoshenReadingRochester
People
Population
142Lowest
699
1,389Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+3.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-3.5%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
58.9±8.3Highest
37% above VT
51.1±7.6Lowest
19% above VT
53.3±7.6
24% above VT
Goshen and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
10.6%±11.6
VT: 17.9%
18.5%±4.2Highest
VT: 17.9%
10.4%±3.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Reading and Goshen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
37.3%±11.7Highest
VT: 21.4%
28.2%±3.3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
31.5%±3.1
VT: 21.4%
Goshen and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
42.3%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
46%
VT: 43.8%
49%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0%±10Lowest
VT: 7%
3.1%±2.5Highest
VT: 7%
0.4%±0.6
VT: 7%
Reading and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$56,250±$33kLowest
31% below VT
$85,000±$19kHighest
5% above VT
$72,676±$8k
11% below VT
Reading and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$330,000±$115k
4% above VT
$377,200±$72kHighest
19% above VT
$253,600±$81kLowest
20% below VT
Reading and Goshen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,100±$331Highest
11% below VT
$929±$158Lowest
25% below VT
Reading and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,240
4% above VT
$5,754Highest
14% above VT
$3,977Lowest
21% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent —
63.3%±31.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
62.4%±27.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Reading and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
16.2%
VT: 10.1%
8.4%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
18.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
100%Highest
VT: 73.2%
84.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
86.1%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Highest
2 yrs newer than VT
1969
7 yrs older than VT
1967Lowest
9 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
11% below VT
33 minHighest
41% above VT
27 min
17% above VT
Work from home
12.1%±9.3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
22.9%±10.6
VT: 16.9%
40.8%±27.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
Rochester and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 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

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.