Compare towns
Rockingham vs Halifax 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).
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
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 | Halifax | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,807Highest |
847Lowest |
2,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.4±2.6 8% above VT |
40.6±13.1Lowest 6% below VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4.3 VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7Lowest 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+ | 29.8%±5Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.6%±7.2Lowest 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% |
44.9% VT: 43.8% |
46.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest 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±$16k 13% below VT |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT |
$71,491±$4kHighest 12% below VT |
| Westminster and Rockingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $210,900±$14kLowest 33% below VT |
$267,500±$21k 16% below VT |
$273,800±$35kHighest 14% below VT |
| Westminster and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,062±$101Highest 14% below VT |
$875±$154Lowest 29% below VT |
$916±$126 26% below VT |
| Rockingham and Westminster 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 |
$4,991Highest about the VT average |
$4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.7%±13.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
57.1%±73.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Halifax and Westminster 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% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.6% VT: 73.2% |
88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1968 8 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 16% below VT |
33 minHighest 38% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 17.9%±7.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax and Westminster 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 | — | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Rockingham School District | Halifax School District | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6 |
| 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.