Compare towns
Pawlet vs Highgate vs Rupert
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pawlet has the most kids (20.3% under 18).
Highgate has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.8%).
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.
| Measure | Pawlet | Highgate | Rupert |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,480 |
3,528Highest |
676Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±7.5 11% above VT |
44±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
57.8±9.7Highest 34% above VT |
| Rupert and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Pawlet and Highgate 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% |
22.2%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
42.3%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
30.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Pawlet and Highgate 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 |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$88,229±$36kHighest 9% above VT |
| Rupert and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $266,200±$44kLowest 16% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$362,500±$63kHighest 14% above VT |
| Rupert and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$215Highest 7% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
— |
| Pawlet and Highgate 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 |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,594Highest 9% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±21.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
20%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Pawlet and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 12 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 40% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
27 minLowest 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±9.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Pawlet 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 | — | #43 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mettawee School District #84 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.