Compare towns
Rockingham vs Cornwall vs Reading vs Bellows Falls
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 shortest commute (20 min average).
Cornwall has the highest household income ($115k).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Bellows Falls has the most renters (49.3% 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 | Rockingham | Cornwall | Reading | Bellows Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,807Highest |
1,208 |
699Lowest |
2,891 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.5% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.4±2.6 8% above VT |
50.4±4.6 17% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
41.3±6.7Lowest 4% below VT |
| Reading and Cornwall 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% |
18.7%±3 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Bellows Falls 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% |
25.7%±6.1 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
23.7%±5.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Rockingham and Reading 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% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
27.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
8.2%±4.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Bellows Falls and Rockingham 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 |
$114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$56,086±$2kLowest 31% below VT |
| Cornwall and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $210,900±$14k 33% below VT |
$458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$195,600±$35kLowest 38% below VT |
| Cornwall and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,062±$101 14% below VT |
$1,125±$206Highest 9% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,038±$109Lowest 16% below VT |
| Cornwall and Reading 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 |
$6,726Highest 33% above VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$4,448Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.7%±13.7 VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.9%±16.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.7% VT: 10.1% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
25.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.7% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
50.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 16% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 17.9%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Cornwall and Reading 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | Rockingham School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — |
| 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 | 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.