Compare towns

Pawlet vs Rupert vs Williston

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).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).

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.

MeasurePawletRupertWilliston
People
Population
1,480
676Lowest
10,144Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.6%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-2.2%
VT: +2.8%
+16.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
47.9±7.5
11% above VT
57.8±9.7Highest
34% above VT
45.4±4.5Lowest
5% 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%
13.9%±3.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
20.5%±5.2Highest
VT: 17.9%
Williston 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%
42.3%±8.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
21%±3.5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
37.5%
VT: 43.8%
30.6%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
54.9%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.4%±2.9
VT: 7%
2.1%±2.5Lowest
VT: 7%
5.7%±2.7Highest
VT: 7%
Williston and Pawlet 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±$36k
9% above VT
$106,967±$12kHighest
32% above VT
Williston 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±$44kLowest
16% below VT
$362,500±$63k
14% above VT
$475,800±$40kHighest
50% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,153±$215Lowest
7% below VT
—
$1,832±$130Highest
48% above VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,924Lowest
22% below VT
$4,594
9% below VT
$5,592Highest
11% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.6%±21.3
VT: 48.4%
20%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
46.9%±17.4Highest
VT: 48.4%
Williston 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%
VT: 10.1%
4.3%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.8%
VT: 73.2%
93.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
75.1%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1964
12 yrs older than VT
1955Lowest
21 yrs older than VT
1993Highest
17 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
40% above VT
27 min
14% above VT
20 minLowest
16% below VT
Work from home
20.4%±8.3
VT: 16.9%
18.6%±9.2Lowest
VT: 16.9%
22.3%±7.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
Williston and Pawlet 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 — — #11 of 70 in VT
School district Mettawee School District #84 — Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56
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.