Compare towns
Goshen vs Stratton vs Mendon 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 oldest population (median age 58.9).
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Goshen | Stratton | Mendon | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 142Lowest |
532 |
1,113 |
1,389Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.9±8.3Highest 37% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
| Goshen and Mendon 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% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 37.3%±11.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 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% VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
49% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±10Lowest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6 VT: 7% |
| Mendon and Stratton 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 |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$72,676±$8k 11% below VT |
| Stratton and Mendon 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 |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$253,600±$81kLowest 20% below VT |
| Stratton and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,208±$979 about the VT average |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
$929±$158Lowest 25% below VT |
| Mendon and Stratton 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 |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
$3,977Lowest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon 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% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 100%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 11% below VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±9.3 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | — | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| High school in town | — | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.