Compare towns
Rochester vs Middlesex vs Fairlee
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%).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Fairlee has the shortest commute (24 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 | Middlesex | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,389 |
1,943Highest |
1,066Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 31.5%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| 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% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Fairlee and Middlesex 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 11% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $253,600±$81kLowest 20% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $929±$158Lowest 25% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
| Middlesex and Fairlee 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 |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,617 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| 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 VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 17% above VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
24 minLowest 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Middlesex 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.