Compare towns
Danby vs Rochester vs Dorset
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
Dorset has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
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 | Danby | Rochester | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,133Lowest |
1,389 |
2,092Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1% VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8 22% above VT |
53.3±7.6Highest 24% above VT |
45.9±7.5Lowest 6% above VT |
| Rochester and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49% VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.9 VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Dorset and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,321±$13k 5% below VT |
$72,676±$8kLowest 11% below VT |
$111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
| Dorset and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$41k 14% below VT |
$253,600±$81kLowest 20% below VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$166Lowest 36% below VT |
$929±$158 25% below VT |
$1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,543 10% below VT |
$3,977Lowest 21% below VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.4%±34.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3% VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 26% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
22 minLowest 8% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| 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 |
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.