What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rumney has the most affordable homes ($310k median).

Whately has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Rumney	Whately
People
Population	1,458Lowest	1,499Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+7.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.5±2.3Lowest 14% above U.S.	49.3±6.7Highest 27% above U.S.
	Whately and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.7%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22%	16.4%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Rumney and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Whately and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	47.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Rumney and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$79,444±$21kLowest about the U.S. average	$116,563±$15kHighest 44% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$309,800±$37kLowest 7% below U.S.	$431,500±$22kHighest 30% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,064±$100Highest 25% below U.S.	$977±$125Lowest 31% below U.S.
	Rumney and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,716Lowest 51% above U.S.	$5,027Highest 61% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.1%±21.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	26.7%±29Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Rumney and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 24% above U.S.	23 minLowest 13% below U.S.
Work from home	14.4%±7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	20.4%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Whately and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Rumney School District	Whately
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.