Compare towns

Windsor vs Ripton vs Bellows Falls vs Rockingham

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Windsor has the most affordable homes ($170k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Bellows Falls has the youngest population (median age 41.3).
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.

MeasureWindsorRiptonBellows FallsRockingham
People
Population
2,060
508Lowest
2,891
4,807Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.5%
VT: +2.8%
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-12.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-8.5%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
44.6±12.3
3% above VT
47.7±14.2Highest
11% above VT
41.3±6.7Lowest
4% below VT
46.4±2.6
8% above VT
Ripton and Rockingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.1%±8.8
VT: 17.9%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
22.6%±6.4Highest
VT: 17.9%
19.2%±4.3
VT: 17.9%
Bellows Falls and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
29.2%±8
VT: 21.4%
30.5%±7.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
23.7%±5.7Lowest
VT: 21.4%
29.8%±5
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+
40%
VT: 43.8%
48%Highest
VT: 43.8%
27.5%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
37.1%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.2%±1.4Lowest
VT: 7%
20.1%±6.3Highest
VT: 7%
8.2%±4.3
VT: 7%
6.1%±2.9
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$51,197±$4kLowest
37% below VT
$112,917±$15kHighest
39% above VT
$56,086±$2k
31% below VT
$70,857±$16k
13% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$170,300±$22kLowest
46% below VT
$394,400±$61kHighest
25% above VT
$195,600±$35k
38% below VT
$210,900±$14k
33% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,002±$107Lowest
19% below VT
—
$1,038±$109
16% below VT
$1,062±$101Highest
14% 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
$4,878
3% below VT
$4,915Highest
about the VT average
$4,448Lowest
12% below VT
$4,887
3% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
31.4%±20Lowest
VT: 48.4%
52.9%±100Highest
VT: 48.4%
43.9%±16.8
VT: 48.4%
46.7%±13.7
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
7.8%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
8.6%
VT: 10.1%
25.1%Highest
VT: 10.1%
16.7%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
51.6%
VT: 73.2%
90.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
50.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
61.7%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1973Highest
3 yrs older than VT
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 min
6% below VT
24 minHighest
about the VT average
20 min
14% below VT
20 minLowest
16% below VT
Work from home
6.6%±4.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7
VT: 16.9%
6.9%±5.3
VT: 16.9%
17.9%±7.1Highest
VT: 16.9%
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 #61 of 70 in VT — — #65 of 70 in VT
School district — Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 — Rockingham School District
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.