Compare towns
Dover vs Sutton vs Brookline 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%).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($231k median).
Brookline has the most kids (20% under 18).
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 | Sutton | Brookline | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466Highest |
790 |
531Lowest |
1,389 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-3.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
45.1±2.7Lowest 5% 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% |
17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Sutton 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% |
21.6%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest 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% |
32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
41.1% VT: 43.8% |
49%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Brookline 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 |
$71,250±$18k 12% below VT |
$80,833±$16kHighest about the VT average |
$72,676±$8k 11% below VT |
| Brookline 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 |
$231,100±$41kLowest 27% below VT |
$290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
$253,600±$81k 20% below VT |
| Dover and Brookline 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 |
— | $1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$929±$158 25% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510 10% below VT |
$3,975Lowest 21% below VT |
$5,000Highest about the VT average |
$3,977 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Rochester and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.3% VT: 10.1% |
12.4% VT: 10.1% |
6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85% VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
28 min 21% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2 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 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | — | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| 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 | 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.