Compare towns
Dummerston vs Dover vs Rochester vs Calais
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
Calais has the most expensive homes ($390k median).
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 | Dummerston | Dover | Rochester | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090Highest |
1,466 |
1,389Lowest |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Dover and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Lowest 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+ | 58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49% VT: 43.8% |
55.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1 VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Calais and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$72,676±$8k 11% below VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
| Dummerston and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$253,600±$81kLowest 20% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
| Calais and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126 13% above VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$929±$158 25% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
| Calais and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,536 10% below VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$3,977Lowest 21% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Rochester and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 11% below VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.