Compare towns

Rochester vs Chittenden 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%).
Chittenden has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.7%).
Newfane has the shortest commute (27 min average).

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.

MeasureRochesterChittendenNewfane
People
Population
1,389
1,318Lowest
1,456Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.5%
VT: +2.8%
-1.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-4.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
53.3±7.6
24% above VT
50.8±6.3Lowest
18% 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%
13.8%±2.5Highest
VT: 17.9%
11.1%±3.7
VT: 17.9%
Chittenden 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%
21.8%±4Lowest
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%
VT: 43.8%
51.5%Highest
VT: 43.8%
46.5%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.4%±0.6Lowest
VT: 7%
3.8%±1.6Highest
VT: 7%
2.4%±2.1
VT: 7%
Chittenden 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
$106,250±$28kHighest
31% above VT
$66,719±$21kLowest
18% below VT
Chittenden 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
$346,800±$35kHighest
10% above VT
$284,200±$49k
10% below VT
Chittenden 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
$1,125±$488
9% below VT
$1,266±$238Highest
about the VT average
Newfane and Chittenden 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
$5,346Highest
6% above VT
$5,174
about the VT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
62.4%±27.8Highest
VT: 48.4%
14.8%±55.7Lowest
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%
6.6%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
10.9%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.1%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
93.5%Highest
VT: 73.2%
87.2%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1967Lowest
9 yrs older than VT
1980Highest
4 yrs newer than VT
1971
5 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
17% above VT
28 minHighest
21% above VT
27 minLowest
13% above VT
Work from home
40.8%±27.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
15%±3.6Lowest
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 Barstow Unified Union School District #49 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.