Compare towns
Newfane vs Poultney 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 expensive homes ($284k median).
Poultney has the most kids (16.8% under 18).
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 | Poultney | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,456Highest |
1,033Lowest |
1,389 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-33.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.4±3.9Highest 26% above VT |
28.2±4.5Lowest 35% 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% |
16.8%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Poultney and Newfane 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% |
21.1%±6.6Lowest 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% |
38.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
22.1%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
$70,536±$11k 13% below VT |
$72,676±$8kHighest 11% below VT |
| Rochester and Poultney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,200±$49kHighest 10% below VT |
$196,600±$43kLowest 38% below VT |
$253,600±$81k 20% below VT |
| Newfane and Rochester 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 |
$868±$113Lowest 30% below VT |
$929±$158 25% below VT |
| Newfane and Rochester 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 |
$3,450Lowest 32% below VT |
$3,977 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
23.2%±12.4Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.4% VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
56.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 5 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 13% above VT |
31 minHighest 33% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 30.8%±12.5 VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±3.5Lowest 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 | — | #41 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | — | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.