Compare towns
Rockingham vs Tunbridge vs Wilder 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 oldest population (median age 46.4).
Tunbridge has the most people working from home (25.8%).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
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 | Tunbridge | Wilder | Bellows Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,807Highest |
1,253Lowest |
3,087 |
2,891 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.5% VT: +2.8% |
+4.1% VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.4±2.6Highest 8% above VT |
42.7±8.3 about the VT average |
45.5±8.9 6% above VT |
41.3±6.7Lowest 4% below VT |
| Rockingham and Wilder 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% |
21.1%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Bellows Falls and Tunbridge 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% |
20.9%±1.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
23.7%±5.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Rockingham and Wilder 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% |
42.9% VT: 43.8% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
27.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3.6%±2Lowest VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9 VT: 7% |
8.2%±4.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Bellows Falls and Wilder 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 |
$89,464±$26kHighest 10% above VT |
$75,143±$9k 7% below VT |
$56,086±$2kLowest 31% below VT |
| Tunbridge and Wilder 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 |
$315,300±$23kHighest about the VT average |
$273,200±$18k 14% below VT |
$195,600±$35kLowest 38% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,062±$101 14% below VT |
$1,346±$128Highest 9% above VT |
$1,142±$451 7% below VT |
$1,038±$109Lowest 16% below VT |
| Tunbridge and Wilder 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 |
$4,645 8% below VT |
$5,505Highest 9% above VT |
$4,448Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.7%±13.7 VT: 48.4% |
76.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.9%±16.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Tunbridge and Rockingham 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% |
14.4% VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
25.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.7% VT: 73.2% |
84.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
62.9% VT: 73.2% |
50.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 16% below VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
17 minLowest 29% below VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 17.9%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
25.8%±8.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Tunbridge 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | Rockingham School District | First Branch Unified School District #82 | — | — |
| High school 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.