Compare towns

Springfield vs Appleton vs Rockingham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Rockingham has the shortest commute (20 min average).

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.

MeasureSpringfieldAppletonRockingham
People
Population
9,084Highest
1,360Lowest
4,807
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-8.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.2±3.7Lowest
11% above U.S.
49.2±7.4Highest
26% above U.S.
46.4±2.6
19% above U.S.
Appleton and Rockingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.6%±3.4
U.S.: 22%
15.3%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.2%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
Rockingham and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.6%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.1%±9.3
U.S.: 17.2%
29.8%±5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Rockingham and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
23.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
37.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.3%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
6.1%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Rockingham and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$66,571±$13k
18% below U.S.
$53,618±$19kLowest
34% below U.S.
$70,857±$16kHighest
12% below U.S.
Rockingham and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$192,400±$20kLowest
42% below U.S.
$235,600±$33kHighest
29% below U.S.
$210,900±$14k
37% below U.S.
Appleton and Rockingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$963±$100Lowest
32% below U.S.
$1,104±$82Highest
22% below U.S.
$1,062±$101
25% below U.S.
Appleton and Rockingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,807
54% above U.S.
$3,588Lowest
15% above U.S.
$4,887Highest
57% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
49.6%±15.6
U.S.: 51.1%
85.4%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.7%±13.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Appleton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
14.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
9.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
16.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
67.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
82.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
61.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1958
22 yrs older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
3% above U.S.
30 minHighest
14% above U.S.
20 minLowest
25% below U.S.
Work from home
15.1%±5.5
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.9%±7.1Highest
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 #64 of 70 in VT — #65 of 70 in VT
School district River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District Appleton Public Schools Rockingham School District
High school in town Springfield High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
14.3
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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.