Compare towns
Rochester vs Colrain vs Fairlee
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).
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 | Colrain | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,389 |
1,627Highest |
1,066Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.3±7.6 37% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7Lowest 28% above U.S. |
56.2±8.7Highest 44% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.2%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Colrain 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% 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% |
5.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Fairlee 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±$10kHighest about the U.S. average |
$74,760±$10k 7% below U.S. |
| Colrain and Fairlee 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±$14kHighest 15% below U.S. |
$274,200±$39k 18% below U.S. |
| Colrain and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $929±$158Lowest 34% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77Highest 22% below U.S. |
$1,083±$242 23% below U.S. |
| Colrain and Fairlee 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. |
$5,617Highest 80% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.4%±27.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
89.2%±71.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairlee 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 40.8%±27.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rochester and Fairlee 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 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| 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.