Rockingham grades C− overall, ranked 62nd of 71 in Vermont, with clear strengths and some subjects that lag. Residents are healthier than 78% of U.S. towns on CDC estimates and it is easier to get around on foot or by transit than 86% of U.S. towns. On the other side, its public schools trail 85% of Vermont towns on state tests and graduation. History is its standout character grade: an A+, better than 100% of U.S. towns, with 25 places on the National Register. Its National Register listings include Rockingham Meetinghouse and Bartonsville Covered Bridge. Only 16 of Vermont’s 172 towns score lower on hazard risk. The biggest park or preserve is Stephen Martin Memorial Wildlife Sanctuary, at 44 acres.

StrongestA⁺History AWalkability A⁻HealthWeakestC⁻Schools C⁻Jobs & income C⁻Cost of living CHazard risk

What makes Rockingham stand out

Where Rockingham beats most towns.

Rockingham Meetinghouse

HistoryA⁺

Settled in 1752

A history going back 274 years.

WalkabilityA

More walkable than 86% of U.S. towns

4% of workers walk, bike or ride transit

EPA National Walkability Index; Census ACS.

Rockingham Meetinghouse · National Register of Historic Places

Rockingham’s story

274 years in pictures

Rockingham Meetinghouse is a National Historic Landmark, the National Register’s top tier. Its founding year, 1752, comes before those of 98% of the Vermont towns we grade with a known year.

Census counts: 1,235 in 1790, 4,832 in 2020. The archive holds 17 old photos and papers going back to 1900 and 5 maps from 1927 on.

25 places on the National Register of Historic Places.

1752Rockingham is settled

Explore the history →

How Rockingham grades

Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Vermont), ordered by how far Rockingham is from typical.

How grading works

WalkabilityEPA walkability 10.2 of 20; 14.8% of households have no carAOpen →SchoolsC⁻Open →Jobs & income$71K median household income; 1,734 jobs based hereC⁻Open →HealthSpringfield Hospital 9.9 miles awayA⁻Open →Cost of livingC⁻Open →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 64% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listCOpen →

Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.

Outdoors8 miles of trailsB⁺Open →History9 notable people born hereA⁺Open →Civic life2.7 library visits per resident; 11.5 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsB⁺Open →

Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.

Climate–Open →Housing market–Open →Who lives here37% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →

How TownRatings grades towns →

Getting set up

Moving to Rockingham: who provides what

Who provides power, water and the rest in Rockingham, and how to reach them.

The full setup list →

PowerGreen Mountain Power23.3¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA

WaterBellows Falls Water DeptNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA

Internet7 providers98% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC

Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Rockingham’s trash rules yet

SchoolsBellows Falls UHSD 27 Rockingham School District Windham Northeast Supervisory Union3 districts serve Rockingham; which school depends on your address and gradeNCES

Register to voteOnlineIn Vermont you can register online up to and including Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (received by Election Day).vote.gov

Who runs elections hereRockingham Town ClerkThe town itself; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Dec 2025

ZIP codes05101, 05154, 0514305101 80% · 05154 10% · 05143 9%Census 2020

EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Aug 3, 2026.

The data

Ordered by what stands out in Rockingham.

Rockingham is healthier than towns with similar incomes and gets more snow than most of the country, though not than most of Vermont; it also carries more natural-hazard risk than most of Vermont (mostly inland flooding).

SchoolsC⁻

Rockingham’s grade for schools is a C−

Its public schools are run by the Rockingham School District. Two of its 4 schools are below, each with why it’s listed.

15%of VT districts it outscoresC⁻School Grade

School	Level	Students	Letter
Bellows Falls Middle SchoolLargest public middle schoolGrades 5–8	Grades 5–8	245	D
Vermont Academy PrivateLargest high schoolGrades 9–12	Grades 9–12	201	–

Full pageRockingham’s schools pageOpen the page

The districtsRockingham School District Vs. the neighborsAhead of 1 of its 3 graded neighbors Every school4 schools · Bellows Falls Middle School Questions“Are Rockingham’s schools good?”

NCES · EDFacts · graded within VT on state tests and graduation

HealthA⁻

Rockingham’s grade for health is an A−

Against the 10,591 U.S. towns with household incomes like Rockingham’s, it is healthier than 93%, so its A− isn’t only a matter of income. Within Vermont it is less healthy than 63% of the 71 graded towns: Vermont sets a high bar.

28% of Rockingham adults have obesity, against 30% in Vermont’s towns and 35% across U.S. towns. 30% of adults sleep under 7 hours in Rockingham. Rockingham beats the Vermont average on 0 of 31 CDC measures and trails it on 1.

78%healthier than U.S. townsA⁻Health Grade

	Rockingham	Vermont towns	U.S. towns
Obesity (CDC PLACES)	28%	30%	35%
Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES)	30%	30%	36%
Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES)	75%	76%	79%
Depression (CDC PLACES)	27%	27%	23%

31 measures vs. Vermont

0 better30 too close to call1 worse

What stands out	Rockingham	VT
More adults who have had a stroke	3.7%	3.3%

Springfield Hospital

9.9 mi away · emergency room

None

primary care, dental or mental-health shortage

37th

percentile among VT towns

Full pageRockingham’s health reportOpen the page

Everyday habitsMore smokers Hospitals & doctors nearby9.9 miles to an ER · Springfield Hospital How adults are doingMore adults in fair or poor health Every CDC estimateBetter than VT on 0 of 31

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA

HousingCost of living grade C⁻

Homes in Rockingham are worth about $295K, by Zillow’s estimate

The typical value, about $295K, is 10% below its November 2023 peak.

The typical Rockingham home is worth about $295,000, down 1.3% in a year, 25% below the Vermont typical home. 62% of Rockingham households own their home, below both Vermont’s towns (75%) and U.S. towns (73%).

$295KZillow home value

	Rockingham	Vermont towns	U.S. towns
Households that own their home	62%	75%	73%
Median rent	$1,062 a month	$1,137 a month	$1,185 a month

Typical home value

Rockingham$295K

Vermont$392K

−1.3%

value change, 1 year

Full pageRockingham’s housing & cost-of-living pageOpen the page

Prices over the yearsDown 1.3% in a year Years of income to buyA typical home costs 4.2 years of income Rents$1,062 a month · Median rent Vs. the neighborsBehind its 3 graded neighbors

Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center

Climate

Rockingham has snowy winters and pleasant summers

The Walpole 3 weather station, 8 miles away, records that 60 inches of snow fall in a normal winter: more than most of the country, but less than 89% of Vermont places with climate records. July afternoons average 81.3°: cooler than most of the country, but hotter than 83% of Vermont places with climate records; January nights average 11°.

Rockingham has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. Among 71 Vermont towns, just 7 have a higher January low than Rockingham. Rockingham’s July high is 81°F.

60″snow a winter

	Rockingham	Vermont towns	U.S. towns
January low	11°F	9°F	22°F
July high	81°F	80°F	85°F

Typical low → high °F

Winter14–33°

Spring32–55°

Summer55–79°

Fall37–59°

Oct 3

typical first frost

May 13

typical last frost

+1.7°

vs. the 20th-century average

Full pageRockingham’s climate pageOpen the page

A year of weatherJuly highs 81°, January lows 11°Rain & snow60″ of snow a winter · 46 inches of rain and snow a year Heating & coolingMostly a heating bill Then and now+1.7° vs. the 20th century · Warmer than the 20th-century average

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020

Who lives here

A larger share of residents are 65 or older in Rockingham than in most of Vermont or the rest of the country

30% of Rockingham residents are 65 or older. Rockingham has lost 3% of its people since 2020, down to 4,697 in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate. The median age in Rockingham is 46.4 years.

46.4median age · VT 43.1

	Rockingham	Vermont towns	U.S. towns
Aged 65 or older	30%	22%	18%
Median age	46.4 years	43.7 years	40.5 years
Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+	37%	40%	29%
Under 18	19%	18%	22%

RockinghamVermontUnited States

VTU.S.

Ages · share of residents

19%

Education · adults 25 and older

No diploma2%

High school29%

Some college24%

Associate’s7%

Bachelor’s17%

Graduate20%

Women and men · all residents

56% women, 44% men

About 79 men for every 100 women (the survey’s margin: ±3.5 points). Across Vermont, 50.4% of residents are women.

Ages and education in Rockingham
	Rockingham	VT	U.S.
Under 10	8.3%	9.1%	11.6%
10 to 17	11%	8.8%	10.3%
18 to 24	7.2%	10%	9.1%
25 to 34	8.9%	11.9%	13.7%
35 to 44	12.6%	12.3%	13.2%
45 to 54	11.2%	12%	12.2%
55 to 64	11.1%	14.5%	12.7%
65 to 74	19.1%	13%	10.2%
75 and older	10.6%	8.5%	7%
No diploma	2.1%	5.1%	10.4%
High school	29.3%	26.8%	26%
Some college	24.2%	15.8%	19.1%
Associate’s	7.3%	8.6%	8.8%
Bachelor’s	17%	25.2%	21.6%
Graduate	20.1%	18.6%	14.1%

Full pageRockingham by the numbersOpen the page

Ages46.4 median age · 30% are 65 or older Schooling37% have a four-year degree Homes62% own their home · Homeowners Income$71K a year · Median household income

Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 4,700, single groups can be off by several points

Work & commuteJobs & income grade C⁻

Most of Rockingham’s workers commute out: the town has 0.8 jobs for each of them

About one in 5 of Rockingham’s working residents works in town. The top destinations are Brattleboro (8%), Westminster (8%) and Springfield (7%). Half commute less than 14 miles.

22%work in town

	Rockingham	Vermont towns	U.S. towns
Below the poverty line	17%	9.2%	9.6%
Working residents who work in town	22%	16%	8%
Average trip to work	20 minutes	23 minutes	25 minutes
Median household income	$71,000	$81,000	$80,000

Where working residents work

In Rockingham22%

Brattleboro8%

Westminster8%

Springfield7%

Walpole6%

14 mi

median commute distance

1,734

jobs based in Rockingham

Balanced

jobs vs. working residents

Walkability grade: more walkable than 86% of U.S. towns

Full pageRockingham’s work & commute pageOpen the page

The jobs here1,734 jobs based here · Balanced Where people work22% work in Rockingham Commute times20 minutes · The average commute How far they goHalf commute less than 14 miles

Census LEHD 2023 · ACS

Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C

Inland flooding leads a high hazard risk in Rockingham

FEMA rates its natural-hazard risk higher than 91% of Vermont towns, with expected losses of about $495 per resident a year; that rating is what its C for hazard risk is built on.

Among 71 Vermont towns, just 6 have a higher FEMA risk score than Rockingham. Since 1996, 4 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Rockingham.

64risk score of 100

FEMA risk score

Inland floodingCold waves

paid flood claims since 1996

federal disasters paid out here

Full pageRockingham’s hazards pageOpen the page

What it facesHigh risk Flood claims4 paid flood claims · Since 1996 Past disasters7 federal disasters · Paid out in Rockingham Get ready1.9 events a year, on average · Ready for inland flooding

FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA

OutdoorsB⁺

Rockingham has set aside 11% of its land for conservation

8.4 miles of trail in 4 parks and preserves. Only 7 of the 71 Vermont towns we compare have a lower trail density than Rockingham.

#63for trails in VT

	Rockingham	Vermont towns	U.S. towns
Conserved land	11%	14%	4.3%
Miles of trail per square mile	0.2 miles per square mile	0.6	0.4

11%

conserved · 2,938 of 26,831 acres

8.4 mi

of trails · 0.2 per sq mi

Biggest places to walk	Trails	Acres
1. Stephen Martin Memorial Wildlife Sanctuary	—	44
2. Windmill Ridge Nature Reserve	0.2 mi	35
3. Herricks Cove Picnic Area and Boat Launch	0.2 mi	26

Full pageRockingham’s outdoors pageOpen the page

Trail map8.4 miles of trail, mapped Pick a walk0.2 miles of trail · Windmill Ridge Nature Reserve Conserved land11% conserved · 2,938 acres protected Questions“Where can I hike in Rockingham?”

Nearby attractions

Mount Monadnock and 28 more within 40 miles

Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Rockingham. Close and well known come first.

All 76 attractions →

29 mi MountainMount Monadnock

34 mi Ski areaKillington Resort184 runs · 3,031 ft vertical

25 mi Ski areaMount Snow119 runs · 1,648 ft vertical

20 mi Ski areaOkemo Mountain119 runs · 2,165 ft vertical

21 mi Ski areaStratton Mountain Resort106 runs · 1,899 ft vertical

7 mi MuseumFort at Number 4

Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons

Photo credits

Mount Monadnock: Jonwmcinenrey, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Killington Resort: NHRHS2010, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Mount Snow: William J Sisti from Morristown, NJ, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Okemo Mountain: Jrclark (talk), CC BY-SA 3.0 · Stratton Mountain Resort: Rudi Riet from Washington, DC, United States, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Fort at Number 4: John Phelan, CC BY-SA 4.0

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Rockingham

19pages on Rockingham

The big questions

SchoolsC⁻Behind 85% of VT districts · 4 schools HealthA⁻Better than VT on 0 of 31 CDC measures Cost of livingC⁻$295K typical home · down 1.3% in a year Work & commuteC⁻$71K median household income · 1,734 jobs here Natural hazardsCFEMA risk higher than 64% of U.S. communities · inland flooding

Out and about

OutdoorsB⁺8 mi of trails · 11% conserved land PlacesAttractions76 nearby · Fort at Number 4 7 mi LibraryB⁺2.7 library visits per resident CollegesLandmark College is 13.4 mi away

The story

HistoryA⁺Settled 1752 · 25 on the National Register Famous people9 born in Rockingham Town Hall & politicsOne full-time town employee per 204 residents Climate81° summer highs · 60″ of snow

Day to day

News1 recent stories about Rockingham WeatherHandbookTown SquareNeighbors

After high school

Colleges nearby

1 within 15 miles of the center of Rockingham

Landmark CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Putney13.4 mi$66,540 tuition

About 6 of every 100 Rockingham residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Vermont.

Prices by family income, graduation and earnings →

Landmarks

25 places in Rockingham on the National Register of Historic Places.

All landmarks →

Rockingham MeetinghouseNational Historic Landmark

Hall Covered Bridge

Miss Bellows Falls Diner

Moore and Thompson Paper Mill ComplexBuilt 1880

Famous people from Rockingham

9 notable people were born in Rockingham.

See all 9 →

Warren Felt EvansAmerican New Thought writer · 1817–1889

Jonathan BlanchardAmerican academic and pastor · 1811–1892

Selim PeabodyAmerican educator · 1829–1903

Henry Franklin SeverensUnited States federal judge · 1835–1923

George Olcott ProctorAmerican politician, Massachusetts · 1847–1925

Kelley TullyAmerican politician from Vermont

About Rockingham

Town in Vermont, United States

Official town website ↗

Rockingham is a town along the Connecticut River in Windham County, Vermont, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 4,832. Rockingham includes the incorporated villages of Bellows Falls and Saxtons River, as well as a large rural area west of Interstate 91. Rockingham has no formal town center; instead, town offices and the Rockingham Public Library are located in the village of Bellows Falls. The approximate center is the Rockingham Meeting House, passed by Route 103, a popular east–west route across the state. The Meeting House was built in Rockingham Village, once the main settlement in the town, but with the increased use of water power for manufacturing, population sh…

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Established: 1752
Area: 42 sq mi
Elevation: 1,037 ft
Area code: 802

Rockingham’s neighbors

7 towns share a border with Rockingham.

Explore the map →

How the neighbors grade

Town	VT rank	Overall	Cost	Safety	Schools	Health
Rockingham	#62	C⁻	C⁻	—	C⁻	A⁻
Bellows Falls	#64	D	C	B⁻	C⁻	B
Westminster	#51	C	C	—	C⁻	A⁻
Springfield	#56	C⁻	B	B⁻	D	B
North Westminster	—	—	—	—	—	—
Grafton	—	—	—	—	—	—

Rockingham and Westminster report no FBI crime data of their own. North Westminster and Grafton aren’t graded (fewer than 1,000 residents, or not enough data). Compare Rockingham with a neighbor →

Questions about Rockingham

Short answers, built from the data on this page.

Is Rockingham, VT a good place to live?

Rockingham grades C− overall, better than 16% of U.S. towns and #62 of 71 in Vermont. It grades A− for health and C− for schools. Schools is its weak spot, with a C−.

Is Rockingham, VT expensive?

Yes. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C−.

What is Rockingham, VT known for?

9 notable people were born here, including Warren Felt Evans and Jonathan Blanchard.

Post to Rockingham

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Is Rockingham a good place to live?