Compare towns
Windsor vs Jay vs Bellows Falls vs Rockingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($170k median).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Bellows Falls has the youngest population (median age 41.3).
Rockingham has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Windsor | Jay | Bellows Falls | Rockingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,060 |
471Lowest |
2,891 |
4,807Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-8.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.6±12.3 3% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
41.3±6.7Lowest 4% below VT |
46.4±2.6 8% above VT |
| Jay and Rockingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±8.8 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Bellows Falls and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±8 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.7%±5.7 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Rockingham and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
27.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
8.2%±4.3Highest VT: 7% |
6.1%±2.9 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 | $51,197±$4kLowest 37% below VT |
$74,792±$25kHighest 8% below VT |
$56,086±$2k 31% below VT |
$70,857±$16k 13% below VT |
| Jay and Rockingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $170,300±$22kLowest 46% below VT |
$234,200±$45kHighest 26% below VT |
$195,600±$35k 38% below VT |
$210,900±$14k 33% below VT |
| Jay and Rockingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,002±$107Lowest 19% below VT |
— | $1,038±$109 16% below VT |
$1,062±$101Highest 14% below VT |
| Rockingham and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,878 3% below VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,448 12% below VT |
$4,887Highest 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±20Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
43.9%±16.8 VT: 48.4% |
46.7%±13.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Rockingham and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
25.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
16.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.6% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
61.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 6.6%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.9%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay 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 | #61 of 70 in VT | — | — | #65 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — | Rockingham School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.