Compare towns
Rochester vs Dorset vs Pittsfield
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%).
Dorset has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Pittsfield has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Dorset | Pittsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,389 |
2,092Highest |
391Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5% VT: +2.8% |
+5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
45.9±7.5Lowest 6% above VT |
53.8±3.5Highest 25% above VT |
| Pittsfield and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.6%±8.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Pittsfield 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% |
21.9%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Rochester and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49% VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.5Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,676±$8k 11% below VT |
$111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
$65,852±$12kLowest 19% below 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 | $253,600±$81kLowest 20% below VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$313,300±$73k about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $929±$158Lowest 25% below VT |
$1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
$1,035±$140 16% below VT |
| Dorset and Pittsfield 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 |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$5,181 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
35.6%±43Lowest 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 | 18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.2% VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 17% above VT |
22 min 8% below VT |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
| Work from home | 40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
28.1%±24.1Lowest 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 History | 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.