Compare towns
Newfane vs Derby vs Rochester vs Mendon
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).
Derby has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
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 | Derby | Rochester | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,456 |
4,537Highest |
1,389 |
1,113Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
-3.5% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.4±3.9Highest 26% above VT |
51.6±2.1Lowest 20% above VT |
53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
| Newfane and Mendon 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% |
15.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Derby and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 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% |
36.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49% VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.1 VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Mendon and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
$80,250±$8k about the VT average |
$72,676±$8k 11% below VT |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
| Mendon and Derby 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 |
$225,000±$10kLowest 29% below VT |
$253,600±$81k 20% below VT |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
| Mendon and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,266±$238Highest about the VT average |
$1,096±$118 11% below VT |
$929±$158Lowest 25% below VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
| Newfane and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,174 about the VT average |
$3,449Lowest 32% below VT |
$3,977 21% below VT |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
45.8%±18.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon 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% |
7.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2% VT: 73.2% |
84.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 13% above VT |
32 minHighest 38% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
| Work from home | 30.8%±12.5 VT: 16.9% |
10.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 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 | — | #52 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | 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 | 6 photos → | 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.