Compare towns
Pawlet vs Strafford 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).
Strafford has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
Rupert has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
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 | Strafford | Rupert |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,480Highest |
1,372 |
676Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±7.5Lowest 11% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
57.8±9.7Highest 34% above VT |
| Rupert and Strafford 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% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
42.3%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.5% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.9 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Strafford 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 |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$88,229±$36k 9% above VT |
| Strafford 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 |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$362,500±$63k 14% above VT |
| Strafford and Rupert 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 |
$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
— |
| Pawlet and Strafford 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 |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$4,594 9% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±21.3 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Highest VT: 48.4% |
20%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Strafford 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% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% 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 |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest 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 | Strafford School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.