Compare towns
Rochester vs Springfield vs Chittenden
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%).
Springfield has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
Chittenden has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.7%).
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 | Chittenden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,389 |
9,084Highest |
1,318Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3% VT: +2.8% |
-1.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.3±7.6Highest 24% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
50.8±6.3 18% above VT |
| Rochester and Chittenden 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% |
18.6%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.8%±2.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Springfield and Chittenden 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% |
23.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
21.8%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49% VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
51.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
3.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Chittenden and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,676±$8k 11% below VT |
$66,571±$13kLowest 18% below VT |
$106,250±$28kHighest 31% above VT |
| Chittenden and Rochester 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 |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$346,800±$35kHighest 10% above VT |
| Chittenden 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 |
$963±$100 22% below VT |
$1,125±$488Highest 9% below VT |
| Chittenden and Springfield 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 |
$4,807 5% below VT |
$5,346Highest 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
14.8%±55.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Rochester and Springfield 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% |
14.8% VT: 10.1% |
6.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
27 minLowest 16% above VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
15%±3.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #64 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 |
| High school in town | None in town | Springfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3 |
— |
| 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.