Compare towns
Rochester vs Castleton vs Hancock vs Dover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Hancock has the most renters (40.5% rent).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($333k 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 | Rochester | Castleton | Hancock | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,389 |
4,453Highest |
435Lowest |
1,466 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
33.8±11.6Lowest 22% below VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
| Dover and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.4%±3.3 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.2%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2 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+ | 49%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
34.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.6 VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,676±$8k 11% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$76,250±$34kHighest 6% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
| Hancock and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $253,600±$81k 20% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$187,900±$11kLowest 41% below VT |
$332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
| Dover and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $929±$158 25% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$939±$19 24% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
| Castleton and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,977 21% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,511 30% below VT |
$4,510Highest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
5.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
28 minHighest 17% above VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Dover 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| 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.