Compare towns
Dover vs Ripton vs Rochester vs Springfield
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%).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
Springfield has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
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 | Ripton | Rochester | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466 |
508Lowest |
1,389 |
9,084Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7% VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
| 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% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3 VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Springfield 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% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7Lowest 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% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
49%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$72,676±$8k 11% below VT |
$66,571±$13k 18% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$253,600±$81k 20% below VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
| Ripton 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 |
— | $929±$158 25% below VT |
$963±$100Highest 22% below VT |
| Springfield 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 |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,977Lowest 21% below VT |
$4,807 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Rochester and Ripton 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
14.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5Lowest 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 | — | — | — | #64 of 70 in VT |
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Springfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 14.3 |
| 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.