Compare towns
Rochester vs Highgate vs Dover 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%).
Highgate has the youngest population (median age 44).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
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 | Highgate | Dover | Pittsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,389 |
3,528Highest |
1,466 |
391Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
44±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
53.8±3.5Highest 25% above VT |
| Pittsfield and Dover 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% |
15.8%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.6%±8.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Highgate 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% |
22.2%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.5Highest VT: 7% |
| Pittsfield and Highgate 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 |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$65,852±$12k 19% below VT |
| Highgate 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 |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$313,300±$73k about the VT average |
| Dover and Pittsfield 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 |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,035±$140Highest 16% below VT |
| Pittsfield 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 |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$5,181Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
35.6%±43 VT: 48.4% |
| 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 VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
| Work from home | 40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
28.1%±24.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Pittsfield 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 | — | #43 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— | — |
| 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.