Compare towns
Rochester vs Jay vs Pittsfield
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%).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Pittsfield has the shortest commute (19 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.
| Measure | Rochester | Jay | Pittsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,389Highest |
471 |
391Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
52.1±10.5Lowest 21% above VT |
53.8±3.5Highest 25% above VT |
| Pittsfield 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% |
14.2%±7.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.6%±8.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Jay and Pittsfield 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% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Rochester and Pittsfield 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% |
45.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.5Highest VT: 7% |
| Pittsfield and Jay 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 |
$74,792±$25kHighest 8% below VT |
$65,852±$12kLowest 19% below VT |
| Jay 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±$81k 20% below VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$313,300±$73kHighest about the VT average |
| Pittsfield 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 |
— | $1,035±$140Highest 16% below VT |
| Pittsfield and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,977 21% below VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,181Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
35.6%±43Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Rochester and Jay 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% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
| Work from home | 40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.1%±24.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Pittsfield 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 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.