Compare towns
Townshend vs Jay vs Rochester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Townshend has the most expensive homes ($287k median).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
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 | Townshend | Jay | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,538Highest |
471Lowest |
1,389 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
52.1±10.5Lowest 21% above VT |
53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
| Townshend and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12%±2.6 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Jay and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±6.6 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.8 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Jay and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,750±$29kHighest 3% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$72,676±$8kLowest 11% below VT |
| Townshend and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $287,200±$79kHighest 9% below VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$253,600±$81k 20% below VT |
| Townshend and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,074±$80Highest 13% below VT |
— | $929±$158Lowest 25% below VT |
| Townshend and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,364Highest 6% above VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,977 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 28%±18.7 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| High school in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.1 |
— | — |
| 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.