Compare towns
Rochester vs Sutton 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%).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
Fairlee has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Sutton | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,389 |
2,239Highest |
1,066Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.3±7.6 37% above U.S. |
48.1±4.1Lowest 24% 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% |
20.5%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.2%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 31.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.9Lowest 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% |
44.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Fairlee 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±$8kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$130,313±$31kHighest 61% above U.S. |
$74,760±$10k 7% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $253,600±$81kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$362,600±$16kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$274,200±$39k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $929±$158Lowest 34% below U.S. |
$1,656±$614Highest 17% above U.S. |
$1,083±$242 23% below U.S. |
| Sutton 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. |
$7,652Highest 145% above U.S. |
$5,617 80% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.4%±27.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest 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% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 40.8%±27.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Kearsarge Regional School District | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Kearsarge Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— |
| 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.