Compare towns

Rockingham vs Ripton vs Walpole 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

Rockingham has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Walpole has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
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.

MeasureRockinghamRiptonWalpoleSpringfield
People
Population
4,807
508Lowest
3,690
9,084Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-8.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
46.4±2.6
19% above U.S.
47.7±14.2Highest
23% above U.S.
46.5±10.4
20% above U.S.
43.2±3.7Lowest
11% above U.S.
Ripton 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%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.2%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±3.4
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%±5
U.S.: 17.2%
30.5%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.5%±5.4
U.S.: 17.2%
23.6%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Ripton and Rockingham 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%
48%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
32.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
23.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.1%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
20.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
2.3%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$70,857±$16k
12% below U.S.
$112,917±$15kHighest
40% above U.S.
$82,617±$16k
about the U.S. average
$66,571±$13kLowest
18% below U.S.
Ripton 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±$14k
37% below U.S.
$394,400±$61kHighest
19% above U.S.
$319,800±$48k
4% below U.S.
$192,400±$20kLowest
42% below U.S.
Ripton and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,062±$101
25% below U.S.
—
$1,165±$150Highest
18% below U.S.
$963±$100Lowest
32% below U.S.
Walpole and Rockingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,887
57% above U.S.
$4,915
58% above U.S.
$6,078Highest
95% above U.S.
$4,807Lowest
54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.7%±13.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.9%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
51.6%±21.9
U.S.: 51.1%
49.6%±15.6
U.S.: 51.1%
Ripton 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%
8.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
14.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
61.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
69.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
67.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1973Highest
7 yrs older than U.S.
1967
13 yrs older than U.S.
1958
22 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minLowest
25% below U.S.
24 min
9% below U.S.
23 min
13% below U.S.
27 minHighest
3% above U.S.
Work from home
17.9%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±8.7
U.S.: 15.1%
7.2%±4.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.1%±5.5
U.S.: 15.1%
Rockingham and Ripton 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 #64 of 70 in VT
School district Rockingham School District Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Fall Mountain Regional School District River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District
High school in town None 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 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.