Compare towns
Montgomery vs Williston vs Rochester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Williston | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,047Lowest |
10,144Highest |
1,389 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.5±11.3 19% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Williston 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% |
21%±3.5Lowest 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% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
49%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Williston 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 |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$72,676±$8k 11% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $323,200±$45k about the VT average |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$253,600±$81kLowest 20% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $868±$209Lowest 30% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$929±$158 25% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,326 14% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$3,977Lowest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.6%±68Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest 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% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 58% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 16%±5.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Williston 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| High school in town | None 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.