Compare towns
Townshend vs Williston 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).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Townshend | Williston | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,538 |
10,144Highest |
1,389Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.1% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
49%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.8 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$72,676±$8kLowest 11% below VT |
| Williston 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 |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$253,600±$81kLowest 20% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,074±$80 13% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$929±$158Lowest 25% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,364 6% above VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$3,977Lowest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 28%±18.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Lowest 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 | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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.