Compare towns
Mount Tabor vs Rochester vs Dorset
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mount Tabor has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
Rochester has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
Dorset has the most kids (24% under 18).
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 | Mount Tabor | Rochester | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 304Lowest |
1,389 |
2,092Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 57.8±10.6Highest 34% above VT |
53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
45.9±7.5Lowest 6% above VT |
| Mount Tabor and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.2%±6.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 42.4%±18.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Mount Tabor and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49% VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±4 VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Dorset and Mount Tabor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | — | $72,676±$8kLowest 11% below VT |
$111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
| Dorset and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $420,500±$76k 33% above VT |
$253,600±$81kLowest 20% below VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,143±$367Highest 74% above VT |
$929±$158Lowest 25% below VT |
$1,420±$296 15% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,233 4% above VT |
$3,977Lowest 21% below VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1946Lowest 30 yrs older than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1972Highest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 46 minHighest 94% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
22 minLowest 8% below VT |
| Work from home | 10.4%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.