Compare towns
Springfield vs Whiting vs Strafford vs Rockingham
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).
Whiting has the youngest population (median age 39.6).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Rockingham has the most people working from home (17.9%).
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 | Springfield | Whiting | Strafford | Rockingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,084Highest |
532Lowest |
1,372 |
4,807 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.3% VT: +2.8% |
— | -0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-8.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
46.4±2.6 8% above VT |
| Strafford and Rockingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting and Strafford 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% |
13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±5Highest 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% |
25.9% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
6.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Whiting and Rockingham 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 |
$91,250±$38k 12% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$70,857±$16k 13% below VT |
| Strafford and Whiting 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 |
$280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$210,900±$14k 33% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $963±$100Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,204±$519Highest about the VT average |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,062±$101 14% below VT |
| Whiting and Strafford 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 |
$4,227Lowest 16% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$4,887 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.7%±13.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Whiting and Springfield 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% |
11.5% VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% VT: 73.2% |
65.4% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
61.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 18 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 16% above VT |
22 min 7% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Rockingham and Strafford 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 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Strafford School District | Rockingham School District |
| High school in town | Springfield High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3 |
— | — | — |
| 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.