Compare towns
Rochester vs Bellows Falls vs Pittsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rochester has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.5%).
Bellows Falls has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
Pittsfield has the most expensive homes ($313k 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 | Bellows Falls | Pittsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,389 |
2,891Highest |
391Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-7.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
41.3±6.7Lowest 4% below VT |
53.8±3.5Highest 25% 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 | 10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.6%±8.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Bellows Falls and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.7%±5.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±7.1 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+ | 49%Highest VT: 43.8% |
27.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
8.2%±4.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Bellows Falls and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,676±$8kHighest 11% below VT |
$56,086±$2kLowest 31% below VT |
$65,852±$12k 19% below VT |
| Rochester and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $253,600±$81k 20% below VT |
$195,600±$35kLowest 38% below VT |
$313,300±$73kHighest about the VT average |
| Pittsfield and Rochester 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 |
$1,038±$109Highest 16% below VT |
$1,035±$140 16% below VT |
| Bellows Falls and Pittsfield 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 |
$4,448 12% below VT |
$5,181Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.9%±16.8 VT: 48.4% |
35.6%±43Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Rochester and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 18.5% VT: 10.1% |
25.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
76.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 17% above VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
| Work from home | 40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.1%±24.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| 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.