Compare towns
Pawlet vs Orwell 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 affordable homes ($266k median).
Orwell has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.9%).
Rupert has the highest household income ($88k).
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 | Orwell | Rupert |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,480Highest |
1,294 |
676Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±7.5 11% above VT |
47.5±7Lowest 10% above VT |
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%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Orwell 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% |
24%±3.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
42.3%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
30.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Pawlet and Orwell 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 |
$70,417±$22k 13% below VT |
$88,229±$36kHighest 9% above VT |
| Rupert and Orwell 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 |
$335,600±$25k 6% above VT |
$362,500±$63kHighest 14% above VT |
| Rupert and Orwell 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 |
$1,105±$51Lowest 10% below VT |
— |
| Pawlet and Orwell 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 |
$3,914Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,594Highest 9% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±21.3 VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
20%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10% VT: 10.1% |
10.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% VT: 73.2% |
87.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 12 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 40% above VT |
27 min 15% above VT |
27 minLowest 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±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 | |||
| School district | Mettawee School District #84 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.