Compare towns
Newfane vs Dummerston vs Barre 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).
Dummerston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
Barre has the most renters (49.6% rent).
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 | Dummerston | Barre | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,456 |
2,090 |
8,412Highest |
1,389Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.4±3.9Highest 26% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
42.2±6.6Lowest about the VT average |
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% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Barre 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% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9Lowest 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% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
36.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1 VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Barre 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±$21k 18% below VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$65,625±$7kLowest 19% below VT |
$72,676±$8k 11% below VT |
| Dummerston 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 |
$335,300±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
$210,400±$15kLowest 34% below VT |
$253,600±$81k 20% below VT |
| Dummerston 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 |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$1,093±$58 11% below VT |
$929±$158Lowest 25% below VT |
| Dummerston and Newfane 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 |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$5,192Highest 3% above VT |
$3,977Lowest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Rochester and Newfane 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% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
17.3% VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 5 yrs older than VT |
1971Highest 5 yrs older than VT |
1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 13% above VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 30.8%±12.5 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest 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 | — | — | #19 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Spaulding Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.7 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.