What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Ira has the most expensive homes ($273k median).

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	Ira
People
Population	1,389Highest	381Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.5% VT: +2.8%	—
Median age	53.3±7.6Lowest 24% above VT	54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT
	Ira 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%	10.5%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9%
	Ira and Rochester 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%	28.9%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Rochester and Ira 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%	37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7%	3.4%±3.5Highest VT: 7%
	Ira 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	$71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT
	Rochester and Ira 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	$272,900±$18kHighest 14% below VT
	Ira and Rochester 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	$942±$52Highest 24% below VT
	Ira and Rochester 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	$4,146Highest 18% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4%	36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Rochester and Ira 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%	14.4%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.1%Lowest VT: 73.2%	90.7%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT	1975Highest 1 yr older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 17% above VT	28 minHighest 20% above VT
Work from home	40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9%	2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9%
Schools
School district	Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.