Compare towns
Rochester vs Lowell 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%).
Lowell has the most kids (30.7% under 18).
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 | Lowell | Pittsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,389Highest |
1,070 |
391Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5% VT: +2.8% |
+0.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
32.9±6.5Lowest 24% below 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% |
30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.6%±8.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.3%±4.1Lowest 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% |
19.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.5Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,676±$8kHighest 11% below VT |
$57,404±$15kLowest 29% below VT |
$65,852±$12k 19% below VT |
| Rochester and Pittsfield 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 |
$183,400±$33kLowest 42% 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 |
$945±$46 23% below VT |
$1,035±$140Highest 16% below VT |
| Pittsfield and Lowell 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 |
$2,810Lowest 44% below VT |
$5,181Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
26.3%±92.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
35.6%±43 VT: 48.4% |
| Rochester and Pittsfield 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% |
9.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% VT: 73.2% |
94.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
55 minHighest 135% above VT |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
| Work from home | 40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.5%±2.3Lowest 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 | Lowell 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.