What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).

West Fairlee has the most kids (13.5% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Rochester	West Fairlee
People
Population	1,389Highest	711Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.5%Highest VT: +2.8%	-4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	53.3±7.6Highest 24% above VT	50.3±7.6Lowest 17% above VT
	Rochester and West Fairlee 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%	13.5%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9%
	West Fairlee and Rochester 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%	29.7%±6.7Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Rochester and West Fairlee 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%	44.6%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7%	2.8%±2.3Highest VT: 7%
	West Fairlee and Rochester 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	$76,500±$16kHighest 6% below VT
	West Fairlee 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±$81kHighest 20% below VT	$237,200±$35kLowest 25% below VT
	Rochester and West Fairlee 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	$1,113±$171Highest 10% below VT
	West Fairlee and Rochester 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	$5,210Highest 3% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4%	50%±89.6Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Rochester and West Fairlee 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%	7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.1%Lowest VT: 73.2%	91.9%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT	1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 17% above VT	28 minHighest 20% above VT
Work from home	40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9%	5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9%
Schools
School district	Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81	Rivendell Interstate School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.