Compare towns
Dover vs Ludlow vs Sheldon 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%).
Ludlow has the most renters (28.1% rent).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Ludlow | Sheldon | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466 |
1,990 |
2,267Highest |
1,389Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+10.6% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
52.2±6.2 21% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below 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% |
14.1%±6 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Ludlow 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% |
31.1%±2 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Rochester and Ludlow 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% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
5.8%±6.4Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Ludlow 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 |
$54,885±$14k 32% below VT |
$78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
$72,676±$8k 11% below VT |
| Sheldon 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±$55k 5% above VT |
$370,200±$46kHighest 17% above VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$253,600±$81kLowest 20% below VT |
| Ludlow 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 |
$1,112±$151 10% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$929±$158 25% below VT |
| Sheldon and Ludlow 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 |
$4,890Highest about the VT average |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,977 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
45.2%±25.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Rochester and Ludlow 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% |
5.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
21.3%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Dover 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 | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.