Compare towns
Newfane vs Putney vs Unity vs Rochester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Unity has the highest household income ($88k).
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 | Putney | Unity | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,456 |
2,622Highest |
1,375Lowest |
1,389 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.4±3.9 40% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
53.3±7.6 37% above U.S. |
| Unity and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.1%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Putney and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,719±$21kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$72,676±$8k 10% below U.S. |
| Unity and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,200±$49k 15% below U.S. |
$300,000±$44kHighest 10% below U.S. |
$276,100±$29k 17% below U.S. |
$253,600±$81kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Putney 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 10% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$929±$158 34% below U.S. |
| Unity and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,174 66% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$3,977Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.9%±79.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.4%±27.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rochester and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
16% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.8%±12.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
40.8%±27.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Unity School District | 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 | 6 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.