Compare towns
Windham vs Stratton vs Rochester vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Stratton has the most kids (28% 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 | Windham | Stratton | Rochester | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594 |
532Lowest |
1,389Highest |
831 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
53.3±7.6Highest 24% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
| Rochester and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 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+ | 48.1% VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8 VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$72,676±$8kLowest 11% below VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
| Stratton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$253,600±$81kLowest 20% below VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
| Stratton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
$929±$158Lowest 25% below VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
| Stratton and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$3,977Lowest 21% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
| Rochester and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.9% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 14% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.