What stands out worked out from the figures below

Orleans has the most affordable homes ($156k median).

Rupert has the most expensive homes ($363k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Orleans	Rupert
People
Population	809Highest	676Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8%	-2.2%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	41.7±5.8Lowest 3% below VT	57.8±9.7Highest 34% above VT
Kids under 18	17.9%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9%	13.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Orleans and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.7%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4%	42.3%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.8%Lowest VT: 43.8%	30.6%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±2.1Highest VT: 7%	2.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7%
	Orleans and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$57,159±$10kLowest 30% below VT	$88,229±$36kHighest 9% above VT
	Rupert and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$156,300±$18kLowest 51% below VT	$362,500±$63kHighest 14% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$810±$94 34% below VT	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,019Lowest 40% below VT	$4,594Highest 9% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.3%±17.2Highest VT: 48.4%	20%±100Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Orleans and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.2%Highest VT: 10.1%	6%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	64.1%Lowest VT: 73.2%	93.7%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT	1955Highest 21 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 33% above VT	27 minLowest 14% above VT
Work from home	8.3%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9%	18.6%±9.2Highest VT: 16.9%
	Rupert and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.