Compare towns
Rochester vs Halifax vs Dover vs Hancock
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%).
Halifax has the most kids (25.4% under 18).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($333k median).
Hancock has the most renters (40.5% rent).
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 | Halifax | Dover | Hancock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,389 |
847 |
1,466Highest |
435Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.9% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
40.6±13.1 6% below VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
33.8±11.6Lowest 22% below 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% |
25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.2%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Halifax 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% |
22.6%±7.2 VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±3.6Lowest 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% |
44.9% VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
34.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
1.2%±0.9 VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Hancock 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 |
$63,889±$7k 21% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$76,250±$34kHighest 6% below VT |
| Hancock 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±$81k 20% below VT |
$267,500±$21k 16% below VT |
$332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$187,900±$11kLowest 41% below VT |
| Dover and Halifax 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 |
$875±$154 29% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$939±$19Highest 24% below VT |
| Hancock and Rochester 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 |
$4,991Highest about the VT average |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$3,511Lowest 30% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
57.1%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Rochester and Halifax 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% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
5.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% VT: 73.2% |
86.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1968 8 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
33 minHighest 38% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
29.9%±11.9 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Halifax 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 | Halifax School District | 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.