Compare towns
Newfane vs Reading 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 shortest commute (27 min average).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
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 | Reading | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,456Highest |
699Lowest |
1,389 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.4±3.9Highest 26% above VT |
51.1±7.6Lowest 19% above 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% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3Lowest 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% |
46%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Reading 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 |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$72,676±$8k 11% below VT |
| Reading 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 |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$253,600±$81kLowest 20% below VT |
| Reading and Newfane 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 |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$929±$158Lowest 25% below VT |
| Newfane and Reading 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 |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$3,977Lowest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.9%±79.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading 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% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 5 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 13% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 30.8%±12.5 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Lowest 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | 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.