Compare towns
Montgomery vs Rochester vs Westfield
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).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
Westfield has the most kids (27.1% under 18).
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 | Rochester | Westfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,047 |
1,389Highest |
536Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4% VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.5±11.3 19% above VT |
53.3±7.6Highest 24% above VT |
44±19.9Lowest about the VT average |
| 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% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
27.1%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 33.9%±8.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±11.4Lowest 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% |
49% VT: 43.8% |
27.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
| Westfield and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $53,289±$24kLowest 34% below VT |
$72,676±$8kHighest 11% below VT |
$72,500±$30k 11% below VT |
| Rochester and Westfield 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 |
$253,600±$81kLowest 20% below VT |
$301,400±$47k 5% below VT |
| Montgomery and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $868±$209 30% below VT |
$929±$158Highest 25% below VT |
$863±$187Lowest 30% below VT |
| Rochester and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,326 14% below VT |
$3,977Lowest 21% below VT |
$4,388Highest 13% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.6%±68Highest VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±71.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Montgomery and Westfield 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% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
91.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 58% above VT |
27 minLowest 17% above VT |
30 min 29% above VT |
| Work from home | 16%±5.9 VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.4%±6.5Lowest 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 | 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.