Compare towns
Dover vs Hampton vs Northfield vs Rochester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
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 | Dover | Hampton | Northfield | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466 |
1,145Lowest |
5,920Highest |
1,389 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3Highest 38% above U.S. |
43.1±14.7 11% above U.S. |
36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
53.3±7.6 37% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
15.9%±6.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
10.4%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Hampton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
49%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
15.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,313±$7kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$73,796±$8kHighest 9% below U.S. |
$71,768±$13k 11% below U.S. |
$72,676±$8k 10% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,900±$55kHighest about the U.S. average |
$166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$274,400±$21k 18% below U.S. |
$253,600±$81k 24% below U.S. |
| Dover and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $670±$49Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$1,264±$375Highest 11% below U.S. |
$1,018±$207 28% below U.S. |
$929±$158 34% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510 45% above U.S. |
$3,007Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$4,878Highest 56% above U.S. |
$3,977 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
13.2%±25.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.4%±27.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northfield and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±8.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
40.8%±27.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rochester and Dover 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 | — | — | #42 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | — | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.