Compare towns
Rochester vs Williston 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%).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Williston | Chittenden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,389 |
10,144Highest |
1,318Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.3±7.6Highest 24% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.8%±2.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Chittenden 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% |
21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.8%±4 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
51.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Williston and Chittenden 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 |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$106,250±$28k 31% above VT |
| Williston 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±$81kLowest 20% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$346,800±$35k 10% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $929±$158Lowest 25% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,125±$488 9% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,977Lowest 21% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$5,346 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
14.8%±55.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Rochester and Williston 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% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
15%±3.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Williston 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.