Compare towns
Rochester vs Stratton vs Sheldon 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%).
Stratton has the highest household income ($123k).
Sheldon has the most homeowners (89%).
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).
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 | Stratton | Sheldon | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,389 |
532Lowest |
2,267Highest |
1,066 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -2.5% VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below 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% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 31.5%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.2% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Fairlee and Sheldon 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 |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
| Stratton and Sheldon 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 |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $929±$158Lowest 25% below VT |
$1,208±$979 about the VT average |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
| Sheldon and Stratton 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 |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest 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% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
14.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
24 minLowest 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Fairlee 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 | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school 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.