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Rockbridge vs Willow

Next-door neighbors in Richland County. The biggest differences: trails (4× in Willow) and jobs per worker (3.6× in Rockbridge).

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Rockbridge, WIKnown for its schoolsRichland County · 760 people

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Willow, WIA small town of 378Richland County · 378 people

Where each one shines

Two towns, two different strengths

What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.

RockbridgeKnown for its schools

SchoolsBetter than 13%of WI districts All about Rockbridge →

WillowA small town of 378

Quiet strengthsWillow doesn’t stand out on the data we haveNeighbors can tell you what the numbers miss.

All about Willow →

The biggest differences

Where they differ most

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

Willow has more miles of trail

Willow 0.8 miRockbridge 0.2 mi

Jobs per worker3.6×

Rockbridge is more of a job hub

Rockbridge 0.18Willow 0.05

Growth since 2010+9.3 pts

Rockbridge has grown faster since 2010

Rockbridge -5%Willow -14.3%

Typical home built14 yrs

Willow’s homes are older

Rockbridge 1990Willow 1976

Rockbridge is the bigger place

Rockbridge 760Willow 378

★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $240 more a month in Rockbridge

A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.

Down paymentRate%

Rockbridge$1,720/mo

Typical home $277K (Census) · tax rate 1.16% · or rent about $747/mo · Housing →

Willow$1,480/mo

Typical home $235K (Census) · tax rate 1.26% · Housing →

The difference: $240 a month, about $2,900 a year, between Rockbridge and Willow.

Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value.

Where they are

Rockbridge and Willow share a border

Straight-line miles between town centers.

RockbridgeWillow

Rockbridge ↔ Willow5.6 miles apart · They share a border · Same county

Report cards

Grades and rankings, side by side

Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every Wisconsin ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Schools

DRockbridgeBetter than 13% of districts in the state –WillowNot graded

Life in each

What daily life feels like in each

The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.

Seasons

RockbridgeWillow

Snow a year40″40″

January low8°F 8°F

July high82°F 82°F

Growing season (days)154d 154d

Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)74th 74th

Outdoors & history

RockbridgeWillow

Trails0 mi 1 mi

Conserved land0.6%3%

National Register places1 —

Community

RockbridgeWillow

Posts this month0 0

Neighbors joined0 0

A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.

Everything, side by side

What matters to you?

Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Only big differences vs Wisconsin average

RockbridgeWillow

People

Population 760Highest 378Lowest

Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -5%Highest WI: +3.6% -14.3%Lowest WI: +3.6%

Median age 56.5±10.5Highest 41% above WI 52.8±6.1Lowest 31% above WI

Rockbridge and Willow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Kids under 18 16.1%±3Lowest WI: 21.4% 22%±4.5Highest WI: 21.4%

Willow and Rockbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Age 65+ 39.6%±10.6Highest WI: 18.5% 26.2%±4.6Lowest WI: 18.5%

Rockbridge and Willow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 25.3%Lowest WI: 33.4% 25.9%Highest WI: 33.4%

Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 2.5%±1.9Highest WI: 5.8% 1.1%±1.3Lowest WI: 5.8%

Rockbridge and Willow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Cost of living

Household incomemedian $71,875±$11kHighest 7% below WI $63,125±$19kLowest 19% below WI

Rockbridge and Willow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $277,300±$63kHighest 4% above WI $235,300±$50kLowest 12% below WI

Rockbridge and Willow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Rentmedian gross, monthly $747±$542 31% below WI —

Property taxmedian, yearly $3,225Highest 15% below WI $2,958Lowest 22% below WI

Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 16.7%±100Highest WI: 43.7% 0%±100Lowest WI: 43.7%

Rockbridge and Willow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Below poverty line 5.3%Lowest WI: 10.6% 5.6%Highest WI: 10.6%

Housing

Homeownersof occupied homes 92.4%Highest WI: 67.8% 88.3%Lowest WI: 67.8%

Typical home builtmedian year 1990Highest 15 yrs newer than WI 1976Lowest 1 yr newer than WI

Getting to work

Average commuteone way 23 minLowest about the WI average 26 minHighest 17% above WI

Work from home 9.5%±5.9Lowest WI: 13.1% 17.2%±14.2Highest WI: 13.1%

Willow and Rockbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Work in townworking residents 0.7%Highest 0%Lowest

Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 20.3 miLowest 21.3 miHighest

Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.18Highest 0.05Lowest

Top workplaceoutside town Richland Center (29%)Richland Center (23%)

Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in WillowFew work in Rockbridge

Outdoors

Conserved landshare of the town 0.6%Lowest 3%Highest

Trailsmapped miles 0.2 miLowest 0.8 miHighest

Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.0 mi 0.0 mi

Parks & preservesnamed on the map 1 1

Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 2.0Lowest 2.1Highest

Schools

School district Richland School District—

High school in town None in town—

Wisconsin average“±” Census margin of errorACS 2020–2024

Deciding?

Ask the people who live there

The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.

Rockbridge neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Rockbridge’s Town Square.

Willow neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Willow’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Rockbridge and Willow

One tap adds it. Up to 4 towns at once.

Bordering Rockbridge

Henrietta585 people · $237K homes

Marshall519 people · $238K homes

Richland1,341 people · $264K homes

Towns like Rockbridge

King842 people · $300K homes

Daniels662 people · $233K homes

Lakewood787 people · $234K homes

Sampson886 people · $292K homes

Not sure which town to add? Find your place ranks Wisconsin towns on what matters to you.Find your place →

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.