Compare towns
Newfane vs Castleton vs Wardsboro vs Rochester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newfane has the oldest population (median age 54.4).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Wardsboro has the most expensive homes ($299k 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 | Newfane | Castleton | Wardsboro | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,456 |
4,453Highest |
820Lowest |
1,389 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.4±3.9Highest 26% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
51.6±7.3 20% above VT |
53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
| Newfane and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Rochester and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
38.9% VT: 43.8% |
49%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9 VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,719±$21k 18% below VT |
$73,854±$23kHighest 9% below VT |
$62,000±$6kLowest 24% below VT |
$72,676±$8k 11% below VT |
| Castleton and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$299,300±$47kHighest 5% below VT |
$253,600±$81k 20% below VT |
| Wardsboro and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,266±$238 about the VT average |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
$929±$158Lowest 25% below VT |
| Wardsboro and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,174Highest about the VT average |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,345 14% below VT |
$3,977 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.9%±79.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58 VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.9% VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
7.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 13% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 30.8%±12.5 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Newfane 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.