Compare towns
Brandon vs Dover vs Rochester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brandon has the most kids (19.2% under 18).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
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 | Brandon | Dover | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,120Highest |
1,466 |
1,389Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1Lowest 16% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
| Dover and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Rochester and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
49%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,180±$12k 21% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$72,676±$8kHighest 11% below VT |
| Rochester and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,800±$23kLowest 28% below VT |
$332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$253,600±$81k 20% below VT |
| Dover and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$225Highest 14% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$929±$158 25% below VT |
| Brandon and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,241 16% below VT |
$4,510Highest 10% below VT |
$3,977Lowest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Rochester and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.2% VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% VT: 73.2% |
81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Dover 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 | #69 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| High school in town | Otter Valley Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9 |
— | — |
| 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.