Compare towns
Newfane vs Middlesex vs Castleton 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).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Middlesex | Castleton | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,456 |
1,943 |
4,453Highest |
1,389Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.4±3.9Highest 26% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Castleton 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% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 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% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$72,676±$8k 11% below VT |
| Middlesex and Castleton 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 |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$253,600±$81k 20% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,266±$238 about the VT average |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$929±$158Lowest 25% below VT |
| Middlesex 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 |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,977 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest 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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 13% above VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 30.8%±12.5 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | 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.