Compare towns
Lowell vs Montgomery vs Rochester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).
Montgomery has the most expensive homes ($323k median).
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 | Lowell | Montgomery | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,070 |
1,047Lowest |
1,389Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.4% VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 32.9±6.5Lowest 24% below VT |
51.5±11.3 19% above VT |
53.3±7.6Highest 24% above VT |
| Rochester and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.5%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.9%±8.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Montgomery and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
49% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $57,404±$15k 29% below VT |
$53,289±$24kLowest 34% below VT |
$72,676±$8kHighest 11% below VT |
| Rochester and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $183,400±$33kLowest 42% below VT |
$323,200±$45kHighest about the VT average |
$253,600±$81k 20% below VT |
| Montgomery and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $945±$46Highest 23% below VT |
$868±$209Lowest 30% below VT |
$929±$158 25% below VT |
| Lowell and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,810Lowest 44% below VT |
$4,326Highest 14% below VT |
$3,977 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.3%±92.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
76.6%±68Highest VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Montgomery and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.6% VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 55 minHighest 135% above VT |
37 min 58% above VT |
27 minLowest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.5%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16%±5.9 VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Lowell School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.