Compare towns
Montgomery vs Sandgate 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).
Sandgate has the most affordable homes ($194k 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 | Montgomery | Sandgate | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,047 |
435Lowest |
1,389Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.5±11.3Lowest 19% above VT |
55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
| Sandgate and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±7.5 VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Montgomery and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.9%±8.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
26%±11.3Lowest 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% |
37.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4 VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Montgomery and Sandgate 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 |
$69,167±$19k 15% below VT |
$72,676±$8kHighest 11% below VT |
| Rochester and Sandgate 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 |
$193,800±$31kLowest 39% 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 |
— | $929±$158Highest 25% 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 | $4,326Highest 14% below VT |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$3,977 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.6%±68Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
9.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 58% above VT |
27 minLowest 16% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 16%±5.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
34.6%±32.4 VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Sandgate 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 History | 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.