Compare towns
Newfane vs Windham vs Fair Haven 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).
Windham has the highest household income ($95k).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
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 | Windham | Fair Haven | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,456 |
594Lowest |
2,724Highest |
1,389 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.4±3.9Highest 26% above VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
39.2±7.6Lowest 9% 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% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Fair Haven and Windham 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% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest 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% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
23.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1 VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Fair Haven 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±$21k 18% below VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
$72,676±$8k 11% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
$253,600±$81k 20% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,266±$238Highest about the VT average |
— | $830±$116Lowest 33% 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 | $5,174 about the VT average |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$3,865Lowest 23% below VT |
$3,977 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9 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% VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
18.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer 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 |
27 min 14% above VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 30.8%±12.5 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest 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 | — | — | #66 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.