Compare towns
Castleton vs Rockingham vs Springfield vs Walpole
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the most homeowners (79%).
Rockingham has the most people working from home (17.9%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Walpole has the most expensive homes ($320k 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 | Castleton | Rockingham | Springfield | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
4,807 |
9,084Highest |
3,690Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.4±2.6 19% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7 11% above U.S. |
46.5±10.4Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Walpole and Rockingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Walpole and Rockingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rockingham and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$70,857±$16k 12% below U.S. |
$66,571±$13kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$82,617±$16kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Walpole and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$210,900±$14k 37% below U.S. |
$192,400±$20kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$319,800±$48kHighest 4% below U.S. |
| Walpole and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,062±$101 25% below U.S. |
$963±$100Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,165±$150Highest 18% below U.S. |
| Walpole and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,887 57% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
$6,078Highest 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±13.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.6%±15.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
61.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | #65 of 70 in VT | #64 of 70 in VT | #27 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Rockingham School District | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Springfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.3 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.