Compare towns
Rochester vs Colrain vs Chittenden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
Colrain has the most kids (15.3% under 18).
Chittenden has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.7%).
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 | Colrain | Chittenden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,389 |
1,627Highest |
1,318Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.3±7.6Highest 37% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7Lowest 28% above U.S. |
50.8±6.3 31% above U.S. |
| Rochester and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Colrain and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rochester and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chittenden and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,676±$8kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$80,673±$10k about the U.S. average |
$106,250±$28kHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Chittenden and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $253,600±$81kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
$346,800±$35kHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $929±$158Lowest 34% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
$1,125±$488Highest 20% below U.S. |
| Chittenden and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,977Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$4,317 38% above U.S. |
$5,346Highest 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.4%±27.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
14.8%±55.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rochester and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 18.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 40.8%±27.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rochester and Chittenden 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 | Mohawk Trail | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 |
| 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 |
U.S. 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.