Compare towns
Newfane vs Whitingham vs Rochester vs Mendon
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).
Whitingham has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
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 | Whitingham | Rochester | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,456Highest |
1,368 |
1,389 |
1,113Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1% VT: +2.8% |
-3.5% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.4±3.9Highest 26% above VT |
46.4±7.1Lowest 8% above VT |
53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
| Newfane and Mendon 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% |
19.8%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Whitingham and Mendon 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% |
31.1%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Rochester and Whitingham 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% |
32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49% VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9 VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Mendon 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 |
$70,625±$11k 13% below VT |
$72,676±$8k 11% below VT |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
| Mendon 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 |
$262,300±$30k 17% below VT |
$253,600±$81kLowest 20% below VT |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
| Mendon 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 |
$673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
$929±$158 25% below VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
| Newfane and Mendon 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 |
$5,055 about the VT average |
$3,977Lowest 21% below VT |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.9%±79.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3 VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Whitingham 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% |
15.5% VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2% VT: 73.2% |
85.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 13% above VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
| Work from home | 30.8%±12.5 VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 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 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.8 |
— | — |
| 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.