Compare towns
Rochester vs Springfield vs Fairlee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
Springfield has the most expensive homes ($384k median).
Fairlee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
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 | Springfield | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,389Highest |
1,122 |
1,066Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.3±7.6 37% above U.S. |
51.4±8.8Lowest 32% above U.S. |
56.2±8.7Highest 44% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.2%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Springfield and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±0.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,676±$8kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$100,893±$19kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$74,760±$10k 7% below U.S. |
| Springfield and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $253,600±$81kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$384,100±$50kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$274,200±$39k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $929±$158Lowest 34% below U.S. |
$1,096±$217Highest 22% below U.S. |
$1,083±$242 23% below U.S. |
| Springfield and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,977Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$5,946Highest 91% above U.S. |
$5,617 80% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.4%±27.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
89.2%±71.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 40.8%±27.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rochester and Springfield 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 | — | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.