Rochester, Vermont Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 288, Rochester's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Rochester is a small community located in Vermont, within Windsor County. The total population is 288. It ranks as the 112th most populous out of 179 Census-designated places in Vermont.

Age Demographics

The median age in Rochester is 59.1 years. This is 37% higher than the state median of 43.1 years. Only 2.1% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 26.4% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Rochester is $40,089. This is 51% lower than the state median of $81,203. It is also 50% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 16.0%. This is 59% higher than the state poverty rate of 10.1%. The unemployment rate is 15.6%. This is 337% higher than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $255,000. Housing costs are 19% lower than the state median of $316,600. The home-value-to-income ratio of 6.4x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 47.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 35% lower than the state average of 73.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

Rochester has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 92.7% of all residents. Asian residents account for 2.4%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.0%) is well below the state average of 2.6%.

Education

35.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 18% lower than the state rate of 43.8%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 95.2%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Rochester, Vermont is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Vermont state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 179 Census-designated places in Vermont. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.