Compare towns
Stockbridge vs Waterville 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).
Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
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 | Waterville | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 791 |
680Lowest |
1,389Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.3±5.3Highest 28% above VT |
49.1±8.2Lowest 14% 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% |
20.4%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Waterville 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% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest 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% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±1.2 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Waterville 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 |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
$72,676±$8k 11% 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 |
$236,300±$15kLowest 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 |
$1,110±$93 10% below VT |
$929±$158Lowest 25% below VT |
| Stockbridge and Waterville 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 |
$3,957Lowest 21% below VT |
$3,977 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.3%±22 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Rochester and Stockbridge 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% |
4.9% VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 17% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
27 minLowest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 28.6%±12.2 VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest 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 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | 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.