Compare towns
Rochester vs Stratton vs Sutton 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%).
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($231k median).
Chittenden has the most homeowners (93.5%).
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 | Sutton | Chittenden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,389Highest |
532Lowest |
790 |
1,318 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5% VT: +2.8% |
— | -11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.3±7.6Highest 24% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
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% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
13.8%±2.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Sutton 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% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
21.8%±4 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49% VT: 43.8% |
33.2% VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
51.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
3.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Chittenden and Sutton 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 |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$71,250±$18kLowest 12% below VT |
$106,250±$28k 31% above VT |
| Stratton and Chittenden 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 |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$231,100±$41kLowest 27% below VT |
$346,800±$35k 10% above VT |
| Stratton and Chittenden 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 |
$1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
— | $1,125±$488 9% below VT |
| Stratton and Chittenden 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 |
$3,975Lowest 21% below VT |
$5,346Highest 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
14.8%±55.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Rochester and Sutton 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% |
12.4% VT: 10.1% |
6.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85% VT: 73.2% |
93.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 17% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
28 min 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
15%±3.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Chittenden 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 | — | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 |
| 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.