What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).

Brighton has the most kids (18.3% under 18).

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	Rochester	Brighton
People
Population	1,389Highest	1,167Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.5%Highest VT: +2.8%	-5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	53.3±7.6Highest 24% above VT	45.2±11.6Lowest 5% above VT
	Rochester and Brighton 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%	18.3%±5.7Highest VT: 17.9%
	Brighton and Rochester 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%	27.2%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Rochester and Brighton 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%	25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7%	4.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$72,676±$8kHighest 11% below VT	$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT
	Rochester and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$253,600±$81kHighest 20% below VT	$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT
	Rochester and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$929±$158Highest 25% below VT	$775±$33Lowest 37% below VT
	Rochester and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,977Highest 21% below VT	$3,360Lowest 33% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4%	55%±17Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Rochester and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	18.5%Lowest VT: 10.1%	22%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.1%Highest VT: 73.2%	51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967 9 yrs older than VT	1967 9 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 17% above VT	33 minHighest 41% above VT
Work from home	40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9%	12.4%±8.1Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Rochester and Brighton 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	Brighton School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.