Compare towns
Montgomery vs Springfield vs Worcester 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.4%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Worcester has the highest household income ($74k).
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 | Springfield | Worcester | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,047 |
9,084Highest |
831Lowest |
1,389 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.5±11.3 19% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
47±2.7 9% 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 | 15.5%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Springfield and Montgomery 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% |
23.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
49% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Worcester 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 |
$66,571±$13k 18% below VT |
$73,833±$18kHighest 9% below VT |
$72,676±$8k 11% below VT |
| Worcester and Rochester 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 |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$253,600±$81k 20% below VT |
| Montgomery and Worcester 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 |
$963±$100 22% below VT |
$1,023±$136Highest 17% below VT |
$929±$158 25% below VT |
| Worcester and Springfield 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 |
$4,807Highest 5% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$3,977Lowest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.6%±68Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest 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% |
14.8% VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 58% above VT |
27 minLowest 16% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 16%±5.9 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #64 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| High school in town | None in town | Springfield High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.