Compare towns
Rochester vs Castleton vs Fairlee
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 most kids (18.8% under 18).
Fairlee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
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 | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,389 |
4,453Highest |
1,066Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
| Fairlee 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% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.5%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Rochester 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% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,676±$8kLowest 11% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$74,760±$10kHighest 8% below VT |
| Fairlee 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 |
$274,200±$39kHighest 13% below VT |
| Fairlee 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 |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
| Castleton and Fairlee 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 |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.4%±27.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Castleton 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 17% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Fairlee 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 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.