Compare towns

Rochester vs Cavendish 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%).
Cavendish has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.8%).
Newfane has the oldest population (median age 54.4).

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.

MeasureRochesterCavendishNewfane
People
Population
1,389
1,242Lowest
1,456Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.5%
VT: +2.8%
+1.8%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-4.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
53.3±7.6
24% above VT
45.2±5.9Lowest
5% 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%
18.3%±4.8Highest
VT: 17.9%
11.1%±3.7
VT: 17.9%
Cavendish and Newfane 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%
23.6%±2Lowest
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%
39.3%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
46.5%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.4%±0.6Lowest
VT: 7%
4.3%±1.9Highest
VT: 7%
2.4%±2.1
VT: 7%
Cavendish 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±$8k
11% below VT
$89,063±$29kHighest
10% above VT
$66,719±$21kLowest
18% below VT
Cavendish and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$253,600±$81kLowest
20% below VT
$285,100±$40kHighest
10% below VT
$284,200±$49k
10% below VT
Cavendish and Newfane 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
$1,000±$546
19% below VT
$1,266±$238Highest
about the VT average
Newfane and Cavendish 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
$3,948Lowest
22% below VT
$5,174Highest
about the VT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
62.4%±27.8Highest
VT: 48.4%
28.9%±27Lowest
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%
6.3%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
10.9%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.1%
VT: 73.2%
81.3%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
87.2%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1967Lowest
9 yrs older than VT
1968
8 yrs older than VT
1971Highest
5 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minHighest
17% above VT
19 minLowest
21% below VT
27 min
13% above VT
Work from home
40.8%±27.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
18.5%±6.6Lowest
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
School district Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 Green Mountain Unified School District #77 West River Valley Union Education District #72A
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.