Compare towns
Rochester vs Arlington vs Chittenden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rochester has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
Arlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Chittenden has the most expensive homes ($347k median).
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 | Rochester | Arlington | Chittenden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,389 |
2,598Highest |
1,318Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.3±7.6Highest 24% above VT |
37.6±4Lowest 13% below VT |
50.8±6.3 18% above VT |
| Rochester and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.8%±2.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.8%±4 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
51.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
3.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Chittenden and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,676±$8kLowest 11% below VT |
$102,308±$11k 26% above VT |
$106,250±$28kHighest 31% above VT |
| Chittenden and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $253,600±$81kLowest 20% below VT |
$318,500±$59k about the VT average |
$346,800±$35kHighest 10% above VT |
| Chittenden and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $929±$158Lowest 25% below VT |
$1,191±$172Highest 3% below VT |
$1,125±$488 9% below VT |
| Arlington and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,977Lowest 21% below VT |
$4,549 10% below VT |
$5,346Highest 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
14.8%±55.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.5% VT: 10.1% |
6.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% VT: 73.2% |
84%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
20 minLowest 13% below VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
35.9%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
15%±3.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Arlington 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 | — | #50 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | Arlington School District | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 |
| High school in town | None in town | Arlington Memorial | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.