Compare towns
Rochester vs Reading vs Ripton vs Newfane
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%).
Reading has the most kids (18.5% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Newfane has the oldest population (median age 54.4).
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 | Reading | Ripton | Newfane |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,389 |
699 |
508Lowest |
1,456Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
54.4±3.9Highest 26% above VT |
| Newfane 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% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and Ripton 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% |
28.2%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Rochester and Ripton 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% |
46%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,676±$8k 11% below VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
| Ripton and Reading 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 |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
| Ripton and Reading 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 |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
— | $1,266±$238Highest about the VT average |
| Newfane and Reading 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 |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,174 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading 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% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1973Highest 3 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Newfane 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.