Compare towns
Dover vs Rochester vs Rockingham
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%).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
Rockingham has the most kids (19.2% 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 | Rochester | Rockingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,466 |
1,389Lowest |
4,807Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5% VT: +2.8% |
-8.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
46.4±2.6Lowest 8% 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% |
10.4%±3.3 VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±6.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±5 VT: 21.4% |
| Rochester and Rockingham 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% |
49%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
6.1%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
| Rockingham 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 |
$72,676±$8kHighest 11% below VT |
$70,857±$16k 13% below VT |
| Rochester and Rockingham 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 |
$253,600±$81k 20% below VT |
$210,900±$14kLowest 33% below VT |
| Dover and Rochester 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 |
$1,062±$101Highest 14% below VT |
| Rockingham 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 |
$3,977Lowest 21% below VT |
$4,887Highest 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.7%±13.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Rochester and Rockingham 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% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
16.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
61.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±7.1Lowest 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 | — | — | #65 of 70 in VT |
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | Rockingham School District |
| 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 |
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.