Compare towns
Rochester vs Dover vs Brookline
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%).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Brookline has the most kids (20% 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 | Rochester | Dover | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,389 |
1,466Highest |
531Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
45.1±2.7Lowest 5% 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% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest 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% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
41.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Brookline 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±$8k 11% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$80,833±$16kHighest about the VT average |
| Brookline 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 |
$332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
| Dover and Brookline 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 |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,977Lowest 21% below VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$5,000Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Rochester and Brookline 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% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Dover 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 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | — |
| 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.