Compare towns
Rochester vs Hampton vs Dover vs Chittenden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Chittenden has the highest household income ($106k).
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 | Hampton | Dover | Chittenden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,389 |
1,145Lowest |
1,466Highest |
1,318 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.3±7.6 37% above U.S. |
43.1±14.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
53.5±8.3Highest 38% above U.S. |
50.8±6.3 31% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
15.9%±6.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Hampton and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 31.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.5%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
51.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chittenden and Hampton 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 10% below U.S. |
$73,796±$8k 9% below U.S. |
$52,313±$7kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$106,250±$28kHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Chittenden and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $253,600±$81k 24% below U.S. |
$166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$332,900±$55k about the U.S. average |
$346,800±$35kHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Chittenden and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $929±$158 34% below U.S. |
$1,264±$375Highest 11% below U.S. |
$670±$49Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$1,125±$488 20% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,977 28% above U.S. |
$3,007Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$4,510 45% above U.S. |
$5,346Highest 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.4%±27.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
13.2%±25.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.1%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
14.8%±55.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
16.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 40.8%±27.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±8.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.2%±11.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 |
| 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 |
U.S. 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.