Compare towns
Rochester vs Castleton vs Calais
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%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
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 | Castleton | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,389Lowest |
4,453Highest |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.3±7.6Highest 24% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
| Rochester and Calais 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% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Castleton 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% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,676±$8kLowest 11% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
| Calais and Castleton 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 |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $929±$158Lowest 25% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
| Calais and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,977 21% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton 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% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Calais 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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.