Compare towns
Rochester vs Ripton vs Whiting 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%).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Whiting has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Dover has the oldest population (median age 53.5).
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 | Ripton | Whiting | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,389 |
508Lowest |
532 |
1,466Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7% VT: +2.8% |
— | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% 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% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting and Ripton 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% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Rochester and Ripton 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% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
6.2%±4 VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,676±$8k 11% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$91,250±$38k 12% above VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
| Ripton and Whiting 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 |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
| Ripton 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 |
— | $1,204±$519Highest about the VT average |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
| Whiting and Rochester 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 |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,227 16% below VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3 VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Rochester and Whiting 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
11.5% VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 17% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | 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.