Compare towns
Walpole vs Ripton vs Bellows Falls 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
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Bellows Falls has the most renters (49.3% rent).
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 | Walpole | Ripton | Bellows Falls | Rockingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,690 |
508Lowest |
2,891 |
4,807Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-12.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.5±10.4 20% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Highest 23% above U.S. |
41.3±6.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
46.4±2.6 19% 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 | 22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Bellows Falls and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±5 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+ | 32.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±4.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $82,617±$16k about the U.S. average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$56,086±$2kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$70,857±$16k 12% 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 | $319,800±$48k 4% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$195,600±$35kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$210,900±$14k 37% 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 | $1,165±$150Highest 18% below U.S. |
— | $1,038±$109Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,062±$101 25% 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 | $6,078Highest 95% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$4,448Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$4,887 57% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.9%±16.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±13.7 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 | 11.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
61.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 9% below U.S. |
20 min 24% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.2%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±7.1Highest 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 | #27 of 120 in NH | — | — | #65 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | Rockingham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.