Compare towns
Rochester vs Chester 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%).
Chester has the most kids (14.1% under 18).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
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 | Chester | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,389Lowest |
2,992Highest |
1,466 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
49.7±4.7Lowest 15% above 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% |
14.1%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Chester and Rochester 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% |
29.8%±7.9 VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Rochester and Chester 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% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Chester and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,676±$8kHighest 11% below VT |
$62,125±$8k 23% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
| Rochester and Chester 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 |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% 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 |
$960±$44Highest 22% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
| Chester and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,977Lowest 21% below VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
$4,510Highest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Rochester and Dover 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% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 9 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 |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest 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 | — | #49 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| High school in town | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— |
| 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.