Compare towns
Dover vs Reading vs Ripton 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%).
Reading has the most kids (18.5% under 18).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
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 | Reading | Ripton | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466Highest |
699 |
508Lowest |
1,389 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7% VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above 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% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and Ripton 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% |
28.2%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Rochester and Ripton 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% |
46%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
49%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$72,676±$8k 11% below VT |
| Ripton and Reading 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 |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$253,600±$81kLowest 20% below VT |
| Ripton and Reading 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 |
$1,100±$331Highest 11% below VT |
— | $929±$158 25% below VT |
| Reading 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 |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$3,977Lowest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading 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% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | 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.