Compare towns
Rochester vs Middlesex vs Hancock 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%).
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
Hancock has the most renters (40.5% rent).
Dover has the shortest commute (22 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 | Middlesex | Hancock | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,389 |
1,943Highest |
435Lowest |
1,466 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
— | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
33.8±11.6Lowest 22% below 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.2%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±3.6Lowest 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% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.6 VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Hancock 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 |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$76,250±$34k 6% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
| Middlesex and Hancock 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 |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$187,900±$11kLowest 41% below VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
| Middlesex and Dover 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 |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$939±$19 24% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,977 21% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$3,511Lowest 30% below VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
3.5%±16.9 VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.6% VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
28 minHighest 17% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Middlesex 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | 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.