Compare towns
Rochester vs Underhill vs Williston 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%).
Underhill has the most kids (27.8% under 18).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Newfane has the oldest population (median age 54.4).
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 | Underhill | Williston | Newfane |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,389Lowest |
3,141 |
10,144Highest |
1,456 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5% VT: +2.8% |
+3.7% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
38.1±11.4Lowest 12% below VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
54.4±3.9Highest 26% above VT |
| Newfane 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% |
27.8%±10.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Underhill and Williston 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% |
17.6%±6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 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% |
50.1% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
3.5%±2 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Williston and Underhill 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 |
$92,267±$54k 14% above VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
| Williston and Underhill 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 |
$446,000±$24k 41% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
| Williston and Underhill 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 |
— | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,266±$238 about the VT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,977Lowest 21% below VT |
$6,697Highest 33% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$5,174 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±18.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Rochester and Newfane 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% |
6.4% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% VT: 73.2% |
79.8% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.4%±11.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 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 | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #2 of 70 in VT | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | None 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.