Compare towns

Brattleboro vs Rupert vs Waltham

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brattleboro has the most kids (19% under 18).
Rupert has the most expensive homes ($363k median).
Waltham has the most people working from home (20.6%).

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.

MeasureBrattleboroRupertWaltham
People
Population
12,122Highest
676
452Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-2.2%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
—
Median age
45.6±4.5Lowest
6% above VT
57.8±9.7
34% above VT
60.8±7.3Highest
41% above VT
Waltham and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19%±2.8Highest
VT: 17.9%
13.9%±3.7
VT: 17.9%
12.8%±7.4Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Brattleboro and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
25.5%±3.2Lowest
VT: 21.4%
42.3%±8.1
VT: 21.4%
45.4%±3.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
Waltham and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
46.5%Highest
VT: 43.8%
30.6%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
39%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.1%±1.6Highest
VT: 7%
2.1%±2.5Lowest
VT: 7%
3.1%±2.1
VT: 7%
Brattleboro and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$58,241±$8kLowest
28% below VT
$88,229±$36k
9% above VT
$97,500±$14kHighest
20% above VT
Waltham and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$257,300±$18kLowest
19% below VT
$362,500±$63kHighest
14% above VT
$329,700±$51k
4% above VT
Rupert and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,074±$58Lowest
13% below VT
—
$1,096±$113Highest
11% below VT
Waltham and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,700
13% above VT
$4,594Lowest
9% below VT
$5,714Highest
13% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.9%±9.6Highest
VT: 48.4%
20%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
29.2%±58.6
VT: 48.4%
Brattleboro and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
17.8%Highest
VT: 10.1%
6%
VT: 10.1%
5.3%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
58.5%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
93.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
86.3%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1955Lowest
21 yrs older than VT
1955Lowest
21 yrs older than VT
1986Highest
10 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
19% below VT
27 min
14% above VT
28 minHighest
18% above VT
Work from home
17.9%±4Lowest
VT: 16.9%
18.6%±9.2
VT: 16.9%
20.6%±5.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
Waltham and Rupert 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 #33 of 70 in VT — —
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 — —
High school in town Brattleboro Union High School — —
Students per teacherat that high school
9.0
— —
On TownTapestry
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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.