Compare towns
Dover vs Arlington 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
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Arlington has the youngest population (median age 37.6).
Dummerston has the most homeowners (92.9%).
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 | Dover | Arlington | Dummerston | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466 |
2,598Highest |
2,090 |
1,389Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+6% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
37.6±4Lowest 13% below VT |
45.6±11.7 6% 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 | 10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 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+ | 48.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.9% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
49% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1 VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Arlington and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$102,308±$11kHighest 26% above VT |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$72,676±$8k 11% below VT |
| Arlington and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$318,500±$59k about the VT average |
$335,300±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
$253,600±$81kLowest 20% below VT |
| Dummerston and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,191±$172 3% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$929±$158 25% below VT |
| Dummerston and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510 10% below VT |
$4,549Highest 10% below VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$3,977Lowest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.3% VT: 10.1% |
7.5% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
20 minLowest 13% below VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
35.9%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #50 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Arlington School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| High school in town | None in town | Arlington Memorial | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.6 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.