Compare towns
Rockingham vs Reading 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
Rockingham has the most affordable homes ($211k median).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Walpole has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
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 | Rockingham | Reading | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,807Highest |
699Lowest |
3,690 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±2.6Lowest 19% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
46.5±10.4 20% above U.S. |
| Reading and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest 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+ | 29.8%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rockingham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Rockingham and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,857±$16kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$82,617±$16k about the U.S. average |
| Reading and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $210,900±$14kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$377,200±$72kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$319,800±$48k 4% below U.S. |
| Reading and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,062±$101Lowest 25% below U.S. |
$1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
$1,165±$150Highest 18% below U.S. |
| Walpole and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,887Lowest 57% above U.S. |
$5,754 84% above U.S. |
$6,078Highest 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.7%±13.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Highest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.9%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading 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 | #65 of 70 in VT | — | #27 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rockingham School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.