Compare towns
Rochester vs Brandon vs Newfane
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 people working from home (40.8%).
Brandon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Newfane has the most expensive homes ($284k 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 | Brandon | Newfane |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,389Lowest |
4,120Highest |
1,456 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5% VT: +2.8% |
+4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
50.1±3.1Lowest 16% above VT |
54.4±3.9Highest 26% 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 | 10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9 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+ | 49%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Brandon and Newfane 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 |
$64,180±$12kLowest 21% below VT |
$66,719±$21k 18% below VT |
| Rochester and Newfane 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 |
$227,800±$23kLowest 28% below VT |
$284,200±$49kHighest 10% below VT |
| Newfane 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 |
$1,064±$225 14% below VT |
$1,266±$238Highest about the VT average |
| Newfane and Brandon 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 |
$4,241 16% below VT |
$5,174Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.7%±15.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7 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 | 18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
14.2% VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% VT: 73.2% |
84.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1971Highest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 17% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5 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 | — | #69 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | None in town | Otter Valley Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9 |
— |
| 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.