Compare towns
Townshend vs Middlesex vs Rochester vs Dover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Townshend has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Middlesex has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
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 | Townshend | Middlesex | Rochester | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,538 |
1,943Highest |
1,389Lowest |
1,466 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
53.5±8.3 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 | 12%±2.6 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1Highest 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+ | 52.1% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
49% VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.8 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$72,676±$8k 11% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
| Middlesex and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $287,200±$79k 9% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$253,600±$81kLowest 20% below VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
| Middlesex and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,074±$80 13% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$929±$158 25% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
| Middlesex and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,364 6% above VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$3,977Lowest 21% below VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% above VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 28%±18.7 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| High school in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | None in town | None in town | 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.