Compare towns
Bridgewater 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
Bridgewater has the most kids (12.8% 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 | Bridgewater | Dover | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 980Lowest |
1,466Highest |
1,389 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
53.3±7.6Lowest 24% above VT |
| Bridgewater and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±5.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Bridgewater and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±0.7 VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Rochester and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
49%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bridgewater and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,272±$3k 13% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$72,676±$8kHighest 11% below VT |
| Rochester and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $218,300±$55kLowest 31% 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 | $850±$778 31% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$929±$158Highest 25% below VT |
| Rochester and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,418Lowest 32% below VT |
$4,510Highest 10% below VT |
$3,977 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±39.1 VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Rochester and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.8% VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% VT: 73.2% |
81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 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 | 10.5%±6.6Lowest 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 | |||
| School district | — | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.