Compare towns
Townshend vs Mendon 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 oldest population (median age 55.6).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
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 | Mendon | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,538Highest |
1,113Lowest |
1,389 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
53.3±7.6Lowest 24% above VT |
| Townshend and Mendon 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% |
14.6%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Mendon and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Rochester and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
49%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.8 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Mendon 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±$29k 3% below VT |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$72,676±$8kLowest 11% below VT |
| Mendon and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $287,200±$79k 9% below VT |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
$253,600±$81kLowest 20% below VT |
| Mendon and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,074±$80 13% below VT |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
$929±$158Lowest 25% below VT |
| Mendon and Townshend 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 |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$3,977Lowest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±23.1 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Townshend 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% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 28%±18.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Lowest 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 | — | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| High school in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.1 |
— | — |
| 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.