Compare towns
Rochester vs Williston vs Dover vs Pittsfield
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 most kids (20.5% under 18).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Pittsfield has the shortest commute (19 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 | Williston | Dover | Pittsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,389 |
10,144Highest |
1,466 |
391Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% above VT |
53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
53.8±3.5Highest 25% above VT |
| Pittsfield 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.6%±8.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Pittsfield 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%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Rochester and Pittsfield 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% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
45.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Williston and Pittsfield 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 |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$65,852±$12k 19% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $253,600±$81kLowest 20% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$313,300±$73k about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $929±$158 25% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,035±$140 16% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,977Lowest 21% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$5,181 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
35.6%±43Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Rochester and Williston 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% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
76.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 17% above VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
| Work from home | 40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
28.1%±24.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Pittsfield 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 | — | — |
| School district | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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.