Compare towns
Montgomery vs Lowell vs Rochester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Montgomery has the most expensive homes ($323k median).
Lowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).
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 | Montgomery | Lowell | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,047Lowest |
1,070 |
1,389Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4% VT: +2.8% |
+0.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.5±11.3 19% above VT |
32.9±6.5Lowest 24% below 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 | 15.5%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 33.9%±8.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.3%±4.1Lowest 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+ | 52.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $53,289±$24kLowest 34% below VT |
$57,404±$15k 29% 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 | $323,200±$45kHighest about the VT average |
$183,400±$33kLowest 42% below VT |
$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 | $868±$209Lowest 30% below VT |
$945±$46Highest 23% 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 | $4,326Highest 14% below VT |
$2,810Lowest 44% below VT |
$3,977 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.6%±68Highest VT: 48.4% |
26.3%±92.9Lowest 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 | 15.6% VT: 10.1% |
9.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 58% above VT |
55 minHighest 135% above VT |
27 minLowest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 16%±5.9 VT: 16.9% |
7.5%±2.3Lowest 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Lowell School District | 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.