Compare towns
Pittsfield vs Reading vs Williston vs Rochester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pittsfield has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Pittsfield | Reading | Williston | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 391Lowest |
699 |
10,144Highest |
1,389 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.8±3.5Highest 25% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% above VT |
53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
| Pittsfield and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.6%±8.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.4%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Rochester and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
49% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±3.5 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Williston and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $65,852±$12kLowest 19% below VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$72,676±$8k 11% below VT |
| Williston and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $313,300±$73k about the VT average |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$253,600±$81kLowest 20% below VT |
| Williston and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,035±$140 16% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$929±$158Lowest 25% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,181 about the VT average |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$3,977Lowest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.6%±43Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 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 | 8.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.2% VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 18% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 28.1%±24.1 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Pittsfield 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 | — | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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 | 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.