Compare towns
Newfane vs Grafton 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 most kids (11.1% under 18).
Grafton has the most expensive homes ($343k 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 | Grafton | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,456Highest |
666Lowest |
1,389 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.4±3.9 26% above VT |
59.2±4.4Highest 37% above VT |
53.3±7.6Lowest 24% above VT |
| Grafton and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.1%±3.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
5.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Newfane and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
34.2%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Grafton and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.4% VT: 43.8% |
49%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
7.1%±5Highest VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Grafton 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 |
$76,111±$7kHighest 6% below VT |
$72,676±$8k 11% below VT |
| Grafton 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 |
$343,200±$85kHighest 8% above VT |
$253,600±$81kLowest 20% below VT |
| Grafton 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 |
$1,288±$174Highest 4% above VT |
$929±$158Lowest 25% below VT |
| Grafton 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 |
$4,843 4% below VT |
$3,977Lowest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.9%±79.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.8%±69.4 VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Rochester and Grafton 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% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2% VT: 73.2% |
89.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Lowest 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 |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 13% above VT |
24 minLowest 4% above VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 30.8%±12.5 VT: 16.9% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest 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 | |||
| School district | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Athens Grafton 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 | 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.