Compare towns
Halifax vs Castleton vs Rockingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Rockingham has the most renters (38.3% rent).
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 | Halifax | Castleton | Rockingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 847Lowest |
4,453 |
4,807Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
-8.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.6±13.1 6% below VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
46.4±2.6Highest 8% above VT |
| Rockingham and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Halifax and Rockingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±7.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Rockingham and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
6.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT |
$73,854±$23kHighest 9% below VT |
$70,857±$16k 13% below VT |
| Castleton and Rockingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,500±$21kHighest 16% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$210,900±$14kLowest 33% below VT |
| Halifax and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$154Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$1,062±$101 14% below VT |
| Castleton and Rockingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,991Highest about the VT average |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,887 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.7%±13.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
16.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
61.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 8 yrs older than VT |
1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 38% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax and Rockingham 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | #65 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Halifax School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Rockingham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.