What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).

Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Rochester	Halifax
People
Population	1,389Highest	847Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+5.9%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	53.3±7.6Highest 24% above VT	40.6±13.1Lowest 6% below VT
	Rochester and Halifax 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%	25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4%	22.6%±7.2Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Rochester and Halifax 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%	44.9%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7%	1.2%±0.9Highest VT: 7%
	Halifax and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$72,676±$8kHighest 11% below VT	$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT
	Rochester and Halifax 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	$267,500±$21kHighest 16% below VT
	Halifax and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$929±$158Highest 25% below VT	$875±$154Lowest 29% below VT
	Rochester and Halifax 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	$4,991Highest about the VT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4%	57.1%±73.8Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Rochester and Halifax 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%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.1%Lowest VT: 73.2%	86.6%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT	1968Highest 8 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 17% above VT	33 minHighest 38% above VT
Work from home	40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9%	29.9%±11.9Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Rochester and Halifax 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	Halifax School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.