Compare towns
Westminster vs Castleton vs Tunbridge vs Rockingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westminster has the oldest population (median age 53.5).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Tunbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Rockingham has the most renters (38.3% 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 | Westminster | Castleton | Tunbridge | Rockingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,999 |
4,453 |
1,253Lowest |
4,807Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
+4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-8.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
42.7±8.3 about the VT average |
46.4±2.6 8% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
21.1%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Tunbridge and Rockingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.6%±6.8 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.9%±1.6 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±5Highest 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+ | 46.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
42.9% VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±2Lowest VT: 7% |
6.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,491±$4k 12% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$89,464±$26kHighest 10% above VT |
$70,857±$16kLowest 13% below VT |
| Tunbridge and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,800±$35k 14% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$315,300±$23kHighest about the VT average |
$210,900±$14kLowest 33% below VT |
| Tunbridge and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,346±$128Highest 9% above VT |
$1,062±$101 14% below VT |
| Tunbridge and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,063 19% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,645 8% below VT |
$4,887Highest 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
76.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.7%±13.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Tunbridge and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
14.4% VT: 10.1% |
16.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
84.2% VT: 73.2% |
61.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.8%±8.2 VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster and Tunbridge 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 | #53 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | — | #65 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | First Branch Unified School District #82 | Rockingham School District |
| High school in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6 |
— | — | — |
| 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.