Compare towns

Middlesex 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

Middlesex has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
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.

MeasureMiddlesexMendonRochester
People
Population
1,943Highest
1,113Lowest
1,389
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.8%
VT: +2.8%
+8.5%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-3.5%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
44.4±3.9Lowest
3% above VT
53.4±10.5Highest
24% above VT
53.3±7.6
24% above VT
Mendon and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.3%±3.1Highest
VT: 17.9%
14.6%±5.2
VT: 17.9%
10.4%±3.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Middlesex and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.6%±3.7Lowest
VT: 21.4%
29%±1.3
VT: 21.4%
31.5%±3.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
Rochester and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
54.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
49.4%
VT: 43.8%
49%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.2%±2.6Highest
VT: 7%
3.1%±2.1
VT: 7%
0.4%±0.6Lowest
VT: 7%
Middlesex and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$109,632±$13kHighest
35% above VT
$100,524±$23k
24% above VT
$72,676±$8kLowest
11% below VT
Middlesex and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$376,300±$40kHighest
19% above VT
$357,000±$44k
13% above VT
$253,600±$81kLowest
20% below VT
Middlesex and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,333±$359Highest
8% above VT
$1,230±$651
about the VT average
$929±$158Lowest
25% below VT
Middlesex and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,483Highest
29% above VT
$5,342
6% above VT
$3,977Lowest
21% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
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
3.8%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
8.2%
VT: 10.1%
18.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
92.2%
VT: 73.2%
86.1%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
10 yrs newer than VT
1977
1 yr newer than VT
1967Lowest
9 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minHighest
17% above VT
17 minLowest
28% below VT
27 minHighest
17% above VT
Work from home
28.4%±10.7
VT: 16.9%
22.5%±8.9Lowest
VT: 16.9%
40.8%±27.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
Rochester and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 — Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81
High school 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.