What stands out worked out from the figures below

Richford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Richford	Rochester
People
Population	2,467Highest	1,389Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.6%Highest VT: +2.8%	-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	39±3.6Lowest 10% below VT	53.3±7.6Highest 24% above VT
Kids under 18	21.8%±4Highest VT: 17.9%	10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	23.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4%	31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	20.8%Lowest VT: 43.8%	49%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.4%±3.6Highest VT: 7%	0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$56,853±$13kLowest 30% below VT	$72,676±$8kHighest 11% below VT
	Rochester and Richford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$176,600±$16kLowest 44% below VT	$253,600±$81kHighest 20% below VT
	Rochester and Richford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,160±$66Highest 6% below VT	$929±$158Lowest 25% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,300Lowest 35% below VT	$3,977Highest 21% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.1%±15.9Lowest VT: 48.4%	62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4%
	Rochester and Richford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	19.5%Highest VT: 10.1%	18.5%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.4%Lowest VT: 73.2%	86.1%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT	1967Highest 9 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 18% above VT	27 minLowest 17% above VT
Work from home	9.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9%	40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9%
	Rochester and Richford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88	Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81
High school in town	Richford Junior/Senior High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	9.1	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.