Compare towns
Dover vs Plainfield vs Highgate 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%).
Plainfield has the most kids (16.3% under 18).
Highgate has the highest household income ($81k).
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 | Plainfield | Highgate | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466 |
1,314Lowest |
3,528Highest |
1,389 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
44±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
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% |
16.3%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Plainfield and Highgate 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% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1Highest 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% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Highgate 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 |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$72,676±$8k 11% below VT |
| Highgate 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 |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$253,600±$81kLowest 20% below VT |
| Dover and Plainfield 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 |
$1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
$929±$158 25% 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 |
$4,806Highest 5% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,977 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield 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 VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Lowest 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 | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #43 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8 |
— |
| 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.