Compare towns

Pawlet vs Arlington vs Jay vs Rupert

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Arlington has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Jay has the most affordable homes ($234k 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.

MeasurePawletArlingtonJayRupert
People
Population
1,480
2,598Highest
471Lowest
676
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.6%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+6%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+5.8%
VT: +2.8%
-2.2%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
47.9±7.5
11% above VT
37.6±4Lowest
13% below VT
52.1±10.5
21% above VT
57.8±9.7Highest
34% above VT
Rupert and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.3%±5.2
VT: 17.9%
20.6%±3.9Highest
VT: 17.9%
14.2%±7.3
VT: 17.9%
13.9%±3.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Arlington and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
27.3%±2.6
VT: 21.4%
20.7%±3.2
VT: 21.4%
15.5%±6.3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
42.3%±8.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
37.5%
VT: 43.8%
55.9%Highest
VT: 43.8%
45.1%
VT: 43.8%
30.6%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.4%±2.9Highest
VT: 7%
3.3%±1.7
VT: 7%
1.9%±2.5Lowest
VT: 7%
2.1%±2.5
VT: 7%
Pawlet and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$62,273±$14kLowest
23% below VT
$102,308±$11kHighest
26% above VT
$74,792±$25k
8% below VT
$88,229±$36k
9% above VT
Arlington and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$266,200±$44k
16% below VT
$318,500±$59k
about the VT average
$234,200±$45kLowest
26% below VT
$362,500±$63kHighest
14% above VT
Rupert and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,153±$215Lowest
7% below VT
$1,191±$172Highest
3% below VT
— —
Arlington and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,924
22% below VT
$4,549
10% below VT
$3,588Lowest
29% below VT
$4,594Highest
9% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.6%±21.3
VT: 48.4%
77.1%±9.5Highest
VT: 48.4%
40%±100
VT: 48.4%
20%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Below poverty line
10%Highest
VT: 10.1%
7.5%
VT: 10.1%
8.7%
VT: 10.1%
6%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.8%
VT: 73.2%
84%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
97%Highest
VT: 73.2%
93.7%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1964
12 yrs older than VT
1966
10 yrs older than VT
2001Highest
25 yrs newer than VT
1955Lowest
21 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 min
40% above VT
20 minLowest
13% below VT
40 minHighest
69% above VT
27 min
14% above VT
Work from home
20.4%±8.3
VT: 16.9%
35.9%±10.8Highest
VT: 16.9%
27.3%±13.7
VT: 16.9%
18.6%±9.2Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Arlington and Jay 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 — #50 of 70 in VT — —
School district Mettawee School District #84 Arlington School District Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District —
High school in town None in town Arlington Memorial None in town —
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.6
— —
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.