Compare towns
Rochester vs Stratton vs Ripton 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%).
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
Ripton has the most homeowners (90.9%).
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 | Stratton | Ripton | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,389 |
532 |
508Lowest |
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 |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above 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% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 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% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,676±$8k 11% below VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
| Stratton and Ripton 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 |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
| Stratton and Ripton 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 |
$1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
— | $670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
| Stratton 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 |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,510 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Rochester and Ripton 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% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 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 | 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.