Compare towns
Stockbridge vs Walden vs Rochester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stockbridge has the most expensive homes ($284k median).
Walden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
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 | Walden | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 791Lowest |
1,037 |
1,389Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4% VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.3±5.3Highest 28% above VT |
48.8±3.2Lowest 13% above VT |
53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
| Stockbridge and Rochester 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% |
14.3%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Walden and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.9%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Rochester and Stockbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35% VT: 43.8% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±1.2 VT: 7% |
4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Walden 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±$12k 5% below VT |
$88,000±$15kHighest 8% above VT |
$72,676±$8kLowest 11% below VT |
| Walden and Stockbridge 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 |
$238,900±$23kLowest 25% below VT |
$253,600±$81k 20% 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 |
$900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
$929±$158 25% 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 |
$3,944Lowest 22% below VT |
$3,977 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.3%±22Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Rochester and Walden 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% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 17% above VT |
26 minLowest 10% above VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 28.6%±12.2 VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest 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 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.