Compare towns
Rochester vs Williston vs Castleton 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%).
Williston has the highest household income ($107k).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
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 | Williston | Castleton | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,389Lowest |
10,144Highest |
4,453 |
1,466 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Castleton 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% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest 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% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,676±$8k 11% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
| Williston and Castleton 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 |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $929±$158 25% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,977 21% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton 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% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 17% above VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest 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 | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #11 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | 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.