Compare towns
Rochester vs Ripton vs Whiting vs Braintree
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%).
Ripton has the most expensive homes ($394k median).
Whiting has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Braintree has the most affordable homes ($218k 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.
| Measure | Rochester | Ripton | Whiting | Braintree |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,389Highest |
508Lowest |
532 |
1,026 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
| Braintree 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% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 31.5%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
30.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
6.2%±4 VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,676±$8kLowest 11% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$91,250±$38k 12% above VT |
$79,803±$5k about the VT average |
| Ripton and Whiting 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 |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $929±$158 25% below VT |
— | $1,204±$519Highest about the VT average |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
| Whiting 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 |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,227 16% below VT |
$3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3 VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Rochester and Whiting 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% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.5% VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 17% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Braintree 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| 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.