Compare towns
Dover vs Rochester vs Walden
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%).
Walden has the most kids (14.3% 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 | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,466Highest |
1,389 |
1,037Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
48.8±3.2Lowest 13% 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% |
14.3%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Walden and Rochester 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% |
31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest 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% |
49%Highest VT: 43.8% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Walden 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±$8k 11% below VT |
$88,000±$15kHighest 8% above VT |
| Walden 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 |
$253,600±$81k 20% below VT |
$238,900±$23kLowest 25% 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±$158Highest 25% below VT |
$900±$136 27% below VT |
| Rochester and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510Highest 10% below VT |
$3,977 21% below VT |
$3,944Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Rochester and Walden 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% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Lowest 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 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.