Compare towns
Pawlet vs Rupert vs Waitsfield
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).
Rupert has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
Waitsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).
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 | Rupert | Waitsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,480 |
676Lowest |
1,918Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2% VT: +2.8% |
+7.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±7.5 11% above VT |
57.8±9.7Highest 34% above VT |
44.3±5.3Lowest about the VT average |
| 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% |
13.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.8%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Waitsfield and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
42.3%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Rupert and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.5% VT: 43.8% |
30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
63.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.8%±3 VT: 7% |
| Pawlet and Waitsfield 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 |
$88,229±$36kHighest 9% above VT |
$84,375±$34k 4% above VT |
| Rupert and Waitsfield 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 |
$362,500±$63k 14% above VT |
$422,400±$92kHighest 33% above VT |
| Waitsfield and Rupert 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 |
— | $1,200±$821Highest about the VT average |
| Waitsfield and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,924Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,594 9% below VT |
$6,208Highest 23% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±21.3 VT: 48.4% |
20%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.4%±30.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Waitsfield and Pawlet 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% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% VT: 73.2% |
93.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 12 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 40% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
25 minLowest 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±9.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Pawlet and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Mettawee School District #84 | — | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| 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.