Compare towns
Rochester vs Windsor vs Dover vs Chittenden
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%).
Windsor has the most kids (19.5% under 18).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Chittenden has the highest household income ($106k).
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 | Windsor | Dover | Chittenden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,389 |
3,554Highest |
1,466 |
1,318Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.2% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
44.8±6.5Lowest 4% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
50.8±6.3 18% 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% |
19.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.8%±2.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Windsor and Chittenden 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% |
29.7%±6.9 VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
21.8%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Rochester and Windsor 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% |
39.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
51.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
0.7%±0.8 VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Chittenden 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 |
$52,484±$11k 35% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$106,250±$28kHighest 31% above VT |
| Chittenden and Rochester 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 |
$207,500±$31kLowest 34% below VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$346,800±$35kHighest 10% above VT |
| Chittenden 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 |
$1,026±$89 17% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,125±$488Highest 9% below VT |
| Chittenden and Windsor 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 |
$5,209 3% above VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$5,346Highest 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
31.5%±17 VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
14.8%±55.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Rochester and Dover 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% |
7.8% VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
6.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% VT: 73.2% |
57.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
93.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
23 min 3% below VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.3%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
15%±3.6 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 | — | #61 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | — | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.