Compare towns
Townshend vs Rochester vs Montgomery
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Townshend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
Montgomery has the most kids (15.5% 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 | Townshend | Rochester | Montgomery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,538Highest |
1,389 |
1,047Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
51.5±11.3Lowest 19% 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% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.5%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Montgomery 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% |
31.5%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
33.9%±8.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Montgomery and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.1% VT: 43.8% |
49%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.8 VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
| Montgomery 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 |
$72,676±$8k 11% below VT |
$53,289±$24kLowest 34% below VT |
| Townshend and Rochester 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 |
$253,600±$81kLowest 20% below VT |
$323,200±$45kHighest about the VT average |
| Montgomery and Townshend 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±$158 25% below VT |
$868±$209Lowest 30% 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 |
$3,977Lowest 21% below VT |
$4,326 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±23.1 VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
76.6%±68Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Montgomery 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% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
15.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
37 minHighest 58% above VT |
| Work from home | 28%±18.7 VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
16%±5.9Lowest 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| 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.