Compare towns
Townshend vs Wolcott 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Wolcott has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
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 | Wolcott | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,538Highest |
1,507 |
1,389Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
42.4±5.9Lowest 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% |
22.8%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±6.6 VT: 21.4% |
11.1%±2.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
31.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.8 VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Wolcott 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 |
$70,259±$10kLowest 13% below VT |
$72,676±$8k 11% 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±$79kHighest 9% below VT |
$221,300±$23kLowest 30% 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 |
$1,059±$118 14% below VT |
$929±$158Lowest 25% below VT |
| Townshend and Wolcott 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 |
$3,930Lowest 22% below VT |
$3,977 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±23.1 VT: 48.4% |
75.7%±21.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Wolcott 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% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% VT: 73.2% |
79.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 28%±18.7 VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±4.2Lowest 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 | |||
| School district | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Wolcott 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 |
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| 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.