Compare towns
Rochester vs Dummerston vs Ferrisburgh 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%).
Dummerston has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Ferrisburgh has the most expensive homes ($423k median).
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 | Dummerston | Ferrisburgh | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,389Lowest |
2,090 |
2,661Highest |
1,466 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-4.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
45.5±4.9Lowest 6% 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% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.2%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Ferrisburgh 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% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
23.3%±3.8Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
51.1% VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1 VT: 7% |
3%±2.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Ferrisburgh 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 |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$106,989±$22kHighest 32% above VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
| Ferrisburgh and Dummerston 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 |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$422,700±$35kHighest 34% above VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $929±$158 25% below VT |
$1,392±$126 13% above VT |
$1,435±$173Highest 16% above VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
| Ferrisburgh and Dummerston 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 |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$6,120Highest 21% above VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
57%±19.5 VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Rochester and Ferrisburgh 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% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.3% VT: 73.2% |
81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1968 8 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
14.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Dummerston 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 | — | — | #7 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Addison Northwest Unified Union School District #54 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| High school in town | None 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.