Compare towns
Dover vs Marshfield vs Rochester vs Newfane
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 most expensive homes ($333k median).
Marshfield has the most kids (19.4% under 18).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
Newfane has the oldest population (median age 54.4).
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 | Marshfield | Rochester | Newfane |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466Highest |
470Lowest |
1,389 |
1,456 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.5% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
42.4±8.8Lowest about the VT average |
53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
54.4±3.9Highest 26% above VT |
| Newfane 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% |
19.4%±9.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3 VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Marshfield and Newfane 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% |
10.2%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9 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% |
35.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Marshfield 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 |
$84,375±$20kHighest 4% above VT |
$72,676±$8k 11% below VT |
$66,719±$21k 18% below VT |
| Marshfield 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 5% above VT |
$178,300±$31kLowest 44% below VT |
$253,600±$81k 20% below VT |
$284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
| Dover and Newfane 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 |
$1,125±$79 9% below VT |
$929±$158 25% below VT |
$1,266±$238Highest about the VT average |
| Newfane and Marshfield 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 |
$3,269Lowest 35% below VT |
$3,977 21% below VT |
$5,174Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.4%±62.4 VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Rochester and Marshfield 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% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.2% VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
87.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
29 minHighest 24% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
17.5%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5 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 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | — | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school 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.