Compare towns
Windsor vs Strafford vs Williston 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 renters (42.2% rent).
Strafford has the most homeowners (88.9%).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Rockingham has the oldest housing (typical home built 1938).
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 | Strafford | Williston | Rockingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,554 |
1,372Lowest |
10,144Highest |
4,807 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.2% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-8.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.8±6.5Lowest 4% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
46.4±2.6 8% above VT |
| Strafford and Rockingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±6.9 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Lowest 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+ | 39.7% VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.7%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
6.1%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
| Rockingham and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,484±$11kLowest 35% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$70,857±$16k 13% below VT |
| Strafford and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $207,500±$31kLowest 34% below VT |
$431,300±$40k 36% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$210,900±$14k 33% below VT |
| Williston and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,026±$89Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,062±$101 14% below VT |
| Williston and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,209 3% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$4,887Lowest 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.5%±17Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.7%±13.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Williston and Rockingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
61.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945 31 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 3% below VT |
23 minHighest about the VT average |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 10.3%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Williston 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | #65 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Strafford School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Rockingham School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.