Compare towns
Dorset vs Newfane 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Newfane has the oldest population (median age 54.4).
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 | Newfane | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,092Highest |
1,456 |
1,389Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5Lowest 6% above VT |
54.4±3.9Highest 26% above VT |
53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
| Newfane 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% |
11.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Rochester and Newfane 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% |
46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Dorset and Newfane 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 |
$66,719±$21kLowest 18% 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 |
$284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
$253,600±$81kLowest 20% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
$1,266±$238 about the VT average |
$929±$158Lowest 25% below VT |
| Dorset and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$5,174 about the VT average |
$3,977Lowest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7Lowest 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% |
10.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.2% VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 4 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 8% below VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5 VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Newfane 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 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | 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.