Compare towns
Castleton vs Dover vs Hampton vs Rochester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
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 | Castleton | Dover | Hampton | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
1,466 |
1,145Lowest |
1,389 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
53.5±8.3Highest 38% above U.S. |
43.1±14.7 11% above U.S. |
53.3±7.6 37% above U.S. |
| Dover and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.9%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
10.4%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.5%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kHighest 9% below U.S. |
$52,313±$7kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$73,796±$8k 9% below U.S. |
$72,676±$8k 10% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$332,900±$55kHighest about the U.S. average |
$166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$253,600±$81k 24% below U.S. |
| Dover and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$670±$49Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$1,264±$375Highest 11% below U.S. |
$929±$158 34% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167 about the U.S. average |
$4,510Highest 45% above U.S. |
$3,007Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$3,977 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.1%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
13.2%±25.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.4%±27.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.2%±11.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±8.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
40.8%±27.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | — | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.