Compare towns
Dover vs Montgomery vs Rochester vs Plainfield
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%).
Montgomery has the most renters (19.3% rent).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 48.1).
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 | Montgomery | Rochester | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466Highest |
1,047Lowest |
1,389 |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.4% VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
51.5±11.3 19% above VT |
53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
48.1±5.5Lowest 12% 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% |
15.5%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Plainfield and Montgomery 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% |
33.9%±8.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Montgomery and Rochester 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% |
52.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
49% VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| Montgomery 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 |
$53,289±$24k 34% below VT |
$72,676±$8kHighest 11% below VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
| Rochester and Plainfield 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 |
$323,200±$45k about the VT average |
$253,600±$81kLowest 20% below VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
| Dover and Montgomery 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 |
$868±$209 30% below VT |
$929±$158 25% below VT |
$1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
| Plainfield 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 |
$4,326 14% below VT |
$3,977Lowest 21% below VT |
$4,806Highest 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
76.6%±68Highest VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Montgomery and Plainfield 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% |
15.6% VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
37 minHighest 58% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
16%±5.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 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 | 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 | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.