Compare towns
Townshend vs Windham vs Highgate 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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k median).
Highgate has the most renters (19.3% rent).
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 | Windham | Highgate | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,538 |
594Lowest |
3,528Highest |
1,389 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
44±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
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% |
17.5%±7.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Windham and Highgate 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% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Rochester and Windham 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% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.8 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Highgate 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 |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$72,676±$8kLowest 11% below VT |
| Windham and Highgate 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 |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$253,600±$81kLowest 20% below VT |
| Windham 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 |
— | $895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$929±$158 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 | $5,364 6% above VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,977 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest 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% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 28%±18.7 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Lowest 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 | — | — | #43 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| High school in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | — | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.1Lowest |
— | 9.8Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.