Compare towns

Chittenden vs Dummerston vs Rochester

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chittenden has the highest household income ($106k).
Dummerston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
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.

MeasureChittendenDummerstonRochester
People
Population
1,318Lowest
2,090Highest
1,389
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.7%
VT: +2.8%
+0.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-3.5%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
50.8±6.3
18% above VT
45.6±11.7Lowest
6% above VT
53.3±7.6Highest
24% above VT
Rochester and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
13.8%±2.5
VT: 17.9%
21.7%±6Highest
VT: 17.9%
10.4%±3.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Dummerston and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.8%±4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
24.3%±3
VT: 21.4%
31.5%±3.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
51.5%
VT: 43.8%
58.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
49%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±1.6Highest
VT: 7%
1.3%±1.1
VT: 7%
0.4%±0.6Lowest
VT: 7%
Chittenden and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$106,250±$28kHighest
31% above VT
$101,696±$21k
25% above VT
$72,676±$8kLowest
11% below VT
Chittenden and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$346,800±$35kHighest
10% above VT
$335,300±$22k
6% above VT
$253,600±$81kLowest
20% below VT
Chittenden and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,125±$488
9% below VT
$1,392±$126Highest
13% above VT
$929±$158Lowest
25% below VT
Dummerston and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,346Highest
6% above VT
$4,536
10% below VT
$3,977Lowest
21% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
14.8%±55.7Lowest
VT: 48.4%
44.1%±32.2
VT: 48.4%
62.4%±27.8Highest
VT: 48.4%
Rochester and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.6%
VT: 10.1%
4.5%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
18.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.5%Highest
VT: 73.2%
92.9%
VT: 73.2%
86.1%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Highest
4 yrs newer than VT
1971
5 yrs older than VT
1967Lowest
9 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
21% above VT
21 minLowest
11% below VT
27 min
17% above VT
Work from home
15%±3.6Lowest
VT: 16.9%
25.9%±10.3
VT: 16.9%
40.8%±27.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
Rochester and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Barstow Unified Union School District #49 Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.