Compare towns

Rockingham vs Windham vs Ripton vs Bellows Falls

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rockingham has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Windham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Bellows Falls has the most renters (49.3% rent).

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.

MeasureRockinghamWindhamRiptonBellows Falls
People
Population
4,807Highest
594
508Lowest
2,891
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-8.5%
VT: +2.8%
—
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-12.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
46.4±2.6
8% above VT
44.2±7.4
about the VT average
47.7±14.2Highest
11% above VT
41.3±6.7Lowest
4% below VT
Ripton and Rockingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.2%±4.3
VT: 17.9%
17.5%±7.9
VT: 17.9%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
22.6%±6.4Highest
VT: 17.9%
Bellows Falls and Rockingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
29.8%±5
VT: 21.4%
23.2%±8.1Lowest
VT: 21.4%
30.5%±7.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
23.7%±5.7
VT: 21.4%
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%
VT: 43.8%
48.1%Highest
VT: 43.8%
48%
VT: 43.8%
27.5%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.1%±2.9
VT: 7%
0.8%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
20.1%±6.3Highest
VT: 7%
8.2%±4.3
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$70,857±$16k
13% below VT
$94,500±$12k
16% above VT
$112,917±$15kHighest
39% above VT
$56,086±$2kLowest
31% below VT
Ripton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$210,900±$14k
33% below VT
$353,900±$20k
12% above VT
$394,400±$61kHighest
25% above VT
$195,600±$35kLowest
38% below VT
Ripton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,062±$101Highest
14% below VT
— —
$1,038±$109Lowest
16% below VT
Rockingham and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,887
3% below VT
$5,951Highest
18% above VT
$4,915
about the VT average
$4,448Lowest
12% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.7%±13.7
VT: 48.4%
41.2%±94Lowest
VT: 48.4%
52.9%±100Highest
VT: 48.4%
43.9%±16.8
VT: 48.4%
Ripton and Rockingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
16.7%
VT: 10.1%
9.9%
VT: 10.1%
8.6%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
25.1%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
61.7%
VT: 73.2%
82.9%
VT: 73.2%
90.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
50.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1982Highest
6 yrs newer than VT
1973
3 yrs older than VT
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minLowest
16% below VT
27 minHighest
14% above VT
24 min
about the VT average
20 min
14% below VT
Work from home
17.9%±7.1
VT: 16.9%
20.5%±5.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7
VT: 16.9%
6.9%±5.3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Windham 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 — — —
School district Rockingham School District — Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 —
High school in town None in town — None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet None yet

VT 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.