Compare towns
Dorset 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
Dorset has the most kids (24% 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 | Dorset | Dover | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,092Highest |
1,466 |
1,389Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5Lowest 6% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% 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 | 24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2 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+ | 72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Dorset and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$72,676±$8k 11% below VT |
| Dorset and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$253,600±$81kLowest 20% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$929±$158 25% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$3,977Lowest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8 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 | 11.2% VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 8% below VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest 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 | 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 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.