Compare towns
Rockingham vs Fairfax vs Westminster
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 most renters (38.3% rent).
Fairfax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
Westminster has the oldest population (median age 53.5).
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 | Fairfax | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,807 |
5,226Highest |
2,999Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.4±2.6 8% above VT |
38.8±3.3Lowest 10% below VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4.3 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfax 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% |
12.5%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Rockingham and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.6Lowest VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
| Rockingham and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,857±$16kLowest 13% below VT |
$128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
$71,491±$4k 12% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $210,900±$14kLowest 33% below VT |
$378,200±$22kHighest 19% above VT |
$273,800±$35k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,062±$101 14% below VT |
$1,080±$131Highest 12% below VT |
$916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
| Fairfax and Rockingham 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 |
$5,497Highest 9% above VT |
$4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.7%±13.7 VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±33.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Westminster 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% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.7% VT: 73.2% |
88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 16% below VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 17.9%±7.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster and Fairfax 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 | #36 of 70 in VT | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Rockingham School District | Fairfax School District | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) | Bellows Falls Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
10.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.