Compare towns
Dover vs Winhall vs Mendon 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%).
Winhall has the most expensive homes ($472k median).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Winhall | Mendon | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466Highest |
752Lowest |
1,113 |
1,389 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+53.7% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5% VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
48.9±6.1Lowest 13% above VT |
53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
| Dover and Mendon 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%±6.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Winhall and Mendon 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% |
20.6%±5.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
67.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
49% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$95,500±$23k 18% above VT |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$72,676±$8k 11% below VT |
| Mendon and Winhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$471,800±$55kHighest 49% above VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$253,600±$81kLowest 20% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,094±$732 11% below VT |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
$929±$158 25% below VT |
| Mendon and Winhall 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 |
$6,567Highest 30% above VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$3,977Lowest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
37.5%±38.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Rochester 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% |
5.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
80.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
18.4%±9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 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 | — | — | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| High school 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.