Compare towns

Springfield vs Rockingham vs Swanton

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Rockingham has the most people working from home (17.9%).
Swanton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.3%).

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.

MeasureSpringfieldRockinghamSwanton
People
Population
9,084Highest
4,807Lowest
6,820
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.3%
VT: +2.8%
-8.5%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+4.3%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
43.2±3.7Lowest
about the VT average
46.4±2.6Highest
8% above VT
43.7±5.5
about the VT average
Rockingham and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.6%±3.4Lowest
VT: 17.9%
19.2%±4.3
VT: 17.9%
20.7%±4.7Highest
VT: 17.9%
Swanton and Rockingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.6%±3.7
VT: 21.4%
29.8%±5Highest
VT: 21.4%
19.5%±3.2Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Rockingham and Springfield 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
VT: 43.8%
37.1%Highest
VT: 43.8%
23.3%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.3%±1.4Lowest
VT: 7%
6.1%±2.9Highest
VT: 7%
3%±1.6
VT: 7%
Rockingham and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$66,571±$13kLowest
18% below VT
$70,857±$16k
13% below VT
$81,371±$14kHighest
about the VT average
Swanton and Rockingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$192,400±$20kLowest
39% below VT
$210,900±$14k
33% below VT
$285,100±$35kHighest
10% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$963±$100Lowest
22% below VT
$1,062±$101
14% below VT
$1,257±$133Highest
about the VT average
Swanton and Rockingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,807
5% below VT
$4,887Highest
3% below VT
$4,449Lowest
12% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
49.6%±15.6Highest
VT: 48.4%
46.7%±13.7
VT: 48.4%
32.7%±14.2Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Springfield and Rockingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
14.8%
VT: 10.1%
16.7%Highest
VT: 10.1%
13%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
67.7%
VT: 73.2%
61.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
77.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1958
18 yrs older than VT
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1976Highest
same as VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minHighest
16% above VT
20 minLowest
16% below VT
23 min
about the VT average
Work from home
15.1%±5.5
VT: 16.9%
17.9%±7.1Highest
VT: 16.9%
8.1%±3.6Lowest
VT: 16.9%
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 #27 of 70 in VT
School district River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District Rockingham School District Missisquoi Valley School District #89
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

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.