Compare towns

Middlesex vs Montpelier vs Rockingham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
Montpelier has the most renters (46.9% rent).
Rockingham has the most affordable homes ($211k median).

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.

MeasureMiddlesexMontpelierRockingham
People
Population
1,943Lowest
8,014Highest
4,807
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.8%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+2.8%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-8.5%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
44.4±3.9
3% above VT
42.3±2.4Lowest
about the VT average
46.4±2.6Highest
8% above VT
Rockingham and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.3%±3.1Highest
VT: 17.9%
17.9%±2.5Lowest
VT: 17.9%
19.2%±4.3
VT: 17.9%
Middlesex and Rockingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.6%±3.7Lowest
VT: 21.4%
24.3%±3.6
VT: 21.4%
29.8%±5Highest
VT: 21.4%
Rockingham and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
54.7%
VT: 43.8%
66.1%Highest
VT: 43.8%
37.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.2%±2.6
VT: 7%
5%±1.6Lowest
VT: 7%
6.1%±2.9Highest
VT: 7%
Rockingham and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$109,632±$13kHighest
35% above VT
$81,030±$6k
about the VT average
$70,857±$16kLowest
13% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$376,300±$40kHighest
19% above VT
$375,100±$21k
18% above VT
$210,900±$14kLowest
33% below VT
Middlesex and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,333±$359Highest
8% above VT
$1,302±$113
6% above VT
$1,062±$101Lowest
14% below VT
Middlesex and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,483
29% above VT
$6,936Highest
38% above VT
$4,887Lowest
3% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
42.4%±9.5
VT: 48.4%
46.7%±13.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
Rockingham and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.8%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
6.5%
VT: 10.1%
16.7%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
53.1%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
61.7%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
10 yrs newer than VT
1955
21 yrs older than VT
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minHighest
17% above VT
18 minLowest
23% below VT
20 min
16% below VT
Work from home
28.4%±10.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
26.9%±5
VT: 16.9%
17.9%±7.1Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Middlesex and Montpelier 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 — #9 of 70 in VT #65 of 70 in VT
School district Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71 Rockingham School District
High school in town None in town Montpelier High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.4
—
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.