Compare towns
Dover vs Guildhall vs Rochester vs Townshend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Guildhall has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
Townshend has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
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 | Guildhall | Rochester | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466 |
371Lowest |
1,389 |
1,538Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
42.6±7.8Lowest about the VT average |
53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
| Townshend and Dover 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% |
22.6%±7.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3 VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
26.1%±5.5 VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
33.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49% VT: 43.8% |
52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
1.1%±3.1 VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8 VT: 7% |
| Dover and Townshend 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 |
$115,000±$46kHighest 42% above VT |
$72,676±$8k 11% below VT |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
| Guildhall and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$321,200±$62k about the VT average |
$253,600±$81kLowest 20% below VT |
$287,200±$79k 9% below VT |
| Dover and Guildhall 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 |
$850±$717 31% below VT |
$929±$158 25% below VT |
$1,074±$80Highest 13% below VT |
| Townshend and Rochester 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 |
$4,625 8% below VT |
$3,977Lowest 21% below VT |
$5,364Highest 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
75%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Guildhall and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.9% VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | — | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 8.1 |
| 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.