Compare towns
Newfane vs Ripton vs Randolph 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).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Randolph has the most kids (17.3% 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 | Ripton | Randolph | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,456 |
508Lowest |
4,843Highest |
1,389 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-3.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.4±3.9Highest 26% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
40.4±7.4Lowest 6% 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% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Randolph and Ripton 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% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
22.9%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Rochester and Ripton 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% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
40.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
$72,676±$8k 11% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$278,700±$38k 12% below VT |
$253,600±$81kLowest 20% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,266±$238Highest about the VT average |
— | $1,172±$173 5% below VT |
$929±$158Lowest 25% below VT |
| Newfane and Randolph 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 |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,698 7% below VT |
$3,977Lowest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.9%±79.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Rochester and Randolph 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
7.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1973Highest 3 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 13% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
21 minLowest 12% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 30.8%±12.5 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7Lowest 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 | — | — | #55 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Randolph Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.4 |
— |
| 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.