Compare towns
Stockbridge vs Rochester vs Bridgewater
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stockbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.4%).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
Bridgewater has the most kids (12.8% 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.
| Measure | Stockbridge | Rochester | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 791Lowest |
1,389Highest |
980 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.3±5.3 28% above VT |
53.3±7.6Lowest 24% above VT |
57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
| Bridgewater and Stockbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 9.9%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±5.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Bridgewater and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.9%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
30.2%±0.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Rochester and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49%Highest VT: 43.8% |
40.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±1.2 VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Bridgewater and Stockbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,109±$12kHighest 5% below VT |
$72,676±$8k 11% below VT |
$70,272±$3kLowest 13% below VT |
| Stockbridge and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $283,500±$26kHighest 10% below VT |
$253,600±$81k 20% below VT |
$218,300±$55kLowest 31% below VT |
| Stockbridge and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$126Highest 8% below VT |
$929±$158 25% below VT |
$850±$778Lowest 31% below VT |
| Stockbridge and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,488Highest 11% below VT |
$3,977 21% below VT |
$3,418Lowest 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.3%±22Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
59.7%±39.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Rochester and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
14.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 17% above VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 28.6%±12.2 VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Stockbridge 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 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | — |
| High school 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.