Compare towns
Rochester vs Warren vs Mendon 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 affordable homes ($254k median).
Warren has the most expensive homes ($569k median).
Mendon has the most kids (14.6% under 18).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
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 | Warren | Mendon | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,389 |
1,585Highest |
1,113Lowest |
1,466 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
53.1±4.2Lowest 23% above VT |
53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
| Dover and Mendon 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% |
9.3%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Mendon and Rochester 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% |
30.1%±4.9 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Rochester and Warren 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% |
60%Highest VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±4Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Warren and Mendon 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 |
$86,905±$16k 7% above VT |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
| Mendon and Warren 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 |
$569,300±$123kHighest 80% above VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $929±$158 25% below VT |
$1,750±$394Highest 42% above VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
| Warren and Mendon 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 |
$7,284Highest 45% above VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
32.3%±26.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Rochester 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% |
15.7% VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 17% above VT |
19 min 21% below VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
36.2%±5 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Warren 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 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | — | 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.