Compare towns

Rockingham vs Bennington vs Middlesex

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rockingham has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
Bennington has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).

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.

MeasureRockinghamBenningtonMiddlesex
People
Population
4,807
15,249Highest
1,943Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-8.5%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-2.7%
VT: +2.8%
+2.8%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
46.4±2.6Highest
8% above VT
44.7±2.3
4% above VT
44.4±3.9Lowest
3% above VT
Rockingham and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.2%±4.3
VT: 17.9%
17.7%±2.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
21.3%±3.1Highest
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+
29.8%±5Highest
VT: 21.4%
25.2%±2.8
VT: 21.4%
20.6%±3.7Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Rockingham and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
37.1%
VT: 43.8%
36.9%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
54.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.1%±2.9Highest
VT: 7%
5.8%±1.6
VT: 7%
5.2%±2.6Lowest
VT: 7%
Rockingham and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$70,857±$16k
13% below VT
$59,446±$7kLowest
27% below VT
$109,632±$13kHighest
35% above VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$210,900±$14kLowest
33% below VT
$213,300±$15k
33% below VT
$376,300±$40kHighest
19% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,062±$101Lowest
14% below VT
$1,133±$63
8% below VT
$1,333±$359Highest
8% above VT
Middlesex and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,887
3% below VT
$4,513Lowest
10% below VT
$6,483Highest
29% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.7%±13.7
VT: 48.4%
68.8%±14.1Highest
VT: 48.4%
0%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Bennington and Rockingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
16.7%Highest
VT: 10.1%
13.2%
VT: 10.1%
3.8%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
61.7%
VT: 73.2%
58.4%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
96.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1961
15 yrs older than VT
1986Highest
10 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 min
16% below VT
17 minLowest
27% below VT
27 minHighest
17% above VT
Work from home
17.9%±7.1
VT: 16.9%
15.1%±4.4Lowest
VT: 16.9%
28.4%±10.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
Middlesex 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 #65 of 70 in VT #58 of 70 in VT —
School district Rockingham School District Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
High school in town None in town Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
14.7
—
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.