Compare towns
Dorset vs Mount Tabor 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).
Mount Tabor has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
Rochester has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
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 | Mount Tabor | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,092Highest |
304Lowest |
1,389 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5Lowest 6% above VT |
57.8±10.6Highest 34% above VT |
53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
| Mount Tabor 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%±6.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
42.4%±18.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Mount Tabor and Rochester 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% |
34.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
1.6%±4 VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Dorset and Mount Tabor 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 |
— | $72,676±$8kLowest 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 |
$420,500±$76k 33% above VT |
$253,600±$81kLowest 20% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296 15% above VT |
$2,143±$367Highest 74% above VT |
$929±$158Lowest 25% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$5,233 4% above VT |
$3,977Lowest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
11%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
92.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 4 yrs older than VT |
1946Lowest 30 yrs older than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 8% below VT |
46 minHighest 94% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
10.4%±8.7Lowest 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 | — | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| High school 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.