Compare towns
Rochester vs Townshend vs Dover vs Mendon
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%).
Townshend has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Mendon has the highest household income ($101k).
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 | Townshend | Dover | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,389 |
1,538Highest |
1,466 |
1,113Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.3±7.6Lowest 24% above VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
| Townshend 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% |
12%±2.6 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Mendon and Townshend 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% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 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% |
52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8 VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Mendon and Dover 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 |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
| Mendon and Townshend 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 |
$287,200±$79k 9% below VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
| Mendon 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 |
$1,074±$80 13% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
| Mendon and Townshend 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 |
$5,364Highest 6% above VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1 VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Townshend 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% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 17% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
| Work from home | 40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Townshend 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 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.1 |
— | — |
| 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.