Compare towns
Putney vs Rupert vs South Hero
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Rupert has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
South Hero has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).
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 | Putney | Rupert | South Hero |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622Highest |
676Lowest |
1,586 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2% VT: +2.8% |
+2.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
57.8±9.7Highest 34% above VT |
51.5±4.8 19% above VT |
| Rupert and South Hero are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.8%±3.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Putney and South Hero are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
42.3%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
26.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6% VT: 43.8% |
30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
61.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.2 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$88,229±$36k 9% above VT |
$127,434±$15kHighest 57% above VT |
| South Hero and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44kLowest 5% below VT |
$362,500±$63k 14% above VT |
$558,300±$46kHighest 76% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
— | $1,439±$221Highest 17% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313 5% above VT |
$4,594Lowest 9% below VT |
$7,858Highest 56% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
20%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
32.6%±21 VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and South Hero are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
3.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
27 minHighest 14% above VT |
24 min 4% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±9.2 VT: 16.9% |
26.3%±8.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| South Hero 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — | South Hero School District |
| 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.