Compare towns
Rochester vs Townshend vs Newfane
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%).
Townshend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Newfane has the most homeowners (87.2%).
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 | Townshend | Newfane |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,389Lowest |
1,538Highest |
1,456 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.3±7.6Lowest 24% above VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
54.4±3.9 26% above VT |
| Townshend and Newfane 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% |
12%±2.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Townshend and Newfane 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% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Rochester and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49% VT: 43.8% |
52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8 VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Newfane and Townshend 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 |
$78,750±$29kHighest 3% below VT |
$66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
| Townshend 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±$81kLowest 20% below VT |
$287,200±$79kHighest 9% below VT |
$284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
| Townshend and Newfane 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 |
$1,074±$80 13% below VT |
$1,266±$238Highest about the VT average |
| Newfane and Townshend 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 |
$5,364Highest 6% above VT |
$5,174 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend 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% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% VT: 73.2% |
82.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 17% above VT |
25 minLowest 6% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Newfane 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 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.