C+

Rochester, VT

Source:

Affordability Score: 62/100

Population: 1,143 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Rochester, VT aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 1,143 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of C+ (62/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $72,715, median home value of $254,800, median rent of $929 per month, and 49.2% of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher. These four metrics alone explain most of the variance between city dashboards.

Cross-agency feeds widen the picture beyond Census demographics. HUD publishes a Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in this county at $1,362 per month (studio $1,161, 1BR $1,168, 3BR $1,786, 4BR $1,844).

Reading the overall grade requires reading all seven dimensions together. The score weights Income 20%, Safety 20%, Housing 15%, Rent 15%, Education 10%, Commute 10%, and Childcare 10%, with each sub-score benchmarked against national percentiles rather than state averages — so the grade is genuinely comparable across any city in the country. Strengths visible in the raw data for Rochester, VT include education. Unemployment currently reads 3.3% and poverty 18.4% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income C+
$72,715
Median household income
Education A-
49.2%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing D
3.5x
Home value $254,800 vs income
Commute D
27 min
Average commute time
Rent B
$1,362/mo
2BR fair market rent (22% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare N/A
N/A
Center-based infant care cost

Income & Employment

Median Income
$72,715
▲ 17% vs national
Per Capita Income
$51,836
Unemployment Rate
3.3%
Poverty Rate
18.4%

Housing

Median Home Value
$254,800
▼ 7% vs national
Median Rent
$929/mo
Owner Occupied
86.2%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,362/mo
▲ 14% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$1,161
1BR
$1,168
2BR
$1,362
3BR
$1,786
4BR
$1,844

Safety

Violent Crime Rate
Data Source
FBI UCR (county-level)

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
49.2%
▲ 19 ppt vs national
High School+
73.8%
Median Age
53.4
Avg. Commute
27 min
▲ 1 min vs national

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
Toddler (Center)
Preschool (Center)
School-Age (Center)

What This Means

Rochester, VT receives an overall affordability grade of C+ (62/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 1,143. This area performs well in education. Data was unavailable for safety, childcare — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

Nearby City Dashboards

Explore Rochester ZIP Codes
View all 1 ZIP codes with demographics and individual scorecards
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What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Rochester, VT affordable?
Rochester, VT receives an overall affordability grade of C+ (62/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $72,715. Median home value is $254,800.
What is the cost of living in Rochester?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $929/mo. 2BR fair market rent $1,362/mo. Median home value $254,800.
How is the affordability score calculated?
The score evaluates 7 dimensions weighted by importance: Income (20%), Safety (20%), Housing (15%), Rent (15%), Education (10%), Commute (10%), and Childcare (10%). Each metric is compared against national percentile benchmarks from Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data.

Data as of 2024. Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates. Source: HUD Fair Market Rents. Source: FBI Uniform Crime Report. Source: DOL National Database of Childcare Prices. Verify with HUD →