Compare towns
Appleton vs Rockingham vs Springfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Rockingham has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
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 | Appleton | Rockingham | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
4,807 |
9,084Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
46.4±2.6 19% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Rockingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Rockingham and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rockingham and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Rockingham and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$70,857±$16kHighest 12% below U.S. |
$66,571±$13k 18% below U.S. |
| Rockingham and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kHighest 29% below U.S. |
$210,900±$14k 37% below U.S. |
$192,400±$20kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Appleton and Rockingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Highest 22% below U.S. |
$1,062±$101 25% below U.S. |
$963±$100Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Appleton and Rockingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$4,887Highest 57% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±13.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.6%±15.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
61.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rockingham and Springfield 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 | #64 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Rockingham School District | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Springfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.