Compare towns
Dummerston vs Ripton vs Rochester vs Chesterfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
Chesterfield has the most renters (16.4% rent).
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 | Ripton | Rochester | Chesterfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
508Lowest |
1,389 |
3,622Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7Lowest 17% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
53.3±7.6Highest 37% above U.S. |
46.8±8.7 20% above U.S. |
| Rochester and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Dummerston and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.8%±7.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rochester and Ripton 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
49% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$72,676±$8kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$102,370±$40k 27% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$22k about the U.S. average |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$253,600±$81kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$373,500±$33k 12% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126Highest about the U.S. average |
— | $929±$158Lowest 34% below U.S. |
$1,324±$1k 6% below U.S. |
| Dummerston and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,536 45% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$3,977Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$6,344Highest 103% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.4%±27.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Chesterfield and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
40.8%±27.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rochester and Dummerston 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 | — | — | — | #52 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | Chesterfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
U.S. 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.