Compare towns
Castleton vs Dover vs Middlesex vs Rochester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
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 | Middlesex | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
1,466 |
1,943 |
1,389Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% 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 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest 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+ | 37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
49% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$72,676±$8k 11% below VT |
| Middlesex and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$253,600±$81k 20% below VT |
| Middlesex and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$929±$158 25% below VT |
| Middlesex and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$3,977 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
| 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% VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Middlesex 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| High school in town | None 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 |
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.