Compare towns
Dover vs Windsor vs Rochester vs Newfane
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%).
Windsor has the most kids (21.1% under 18).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
Newfane has the oldest population (median age 54.4).
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 | Windsor | Rochester | Newfane |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466 |
2,060Highest |
1,389Lowest |
1,456 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.5% VT: +2.8% |
-3.5% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
44.6±12.3Lowest 3% above VT |
53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
54.4±3.9Highest 26% above VT |
| Newfane and Dover 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% |
21.1%±8.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3 VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Windsor and Newfane 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% |
29.2%±8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9Lowest 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% |
40%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.4 VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Dover and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,313±$7k 36% below VT |
$51,197±$4kLowest 37% below VT |
$72,676±$8kHighest 11% below VT |
$66,719±$21k 18% below VT |
| Rochester and Newfane 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 |
$170,300±$22kLowest 46% below VT |
$253,600±$81k 20% below VT |
$284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
| Dover and Newfane 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 |
$1,002±$107 19% below VT |
$929±$158 25% below VT |
$1,266±$238Highest about the VT average |
| Newfane and Windsor 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 |
$4,878 3% below VT |
$3,977Lowest 21% below VT |
$5,174Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
31.4%±20Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Rochester and Newfane 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% |
7.8% VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
51.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
87.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
6.6%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Newfane 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 | — | #61 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | — | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| 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.