Compare towns
Rupert vs Barre vs Putney vs Pawlet
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rupert has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.2%).
Barre has the most renters (49.6% rent).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Pawlet has the most kids (20.3% under 18).
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 | Rupert | Barre | Putney | Pawlet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 676Lowest |
8,412Highest |
2,622 |
1,480 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-3.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 57.8±9.7Highest 34% above VT |
42.2±6.6 about the VT average |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
47.9±7.5 11% 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 | 13.9%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
20.3%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Pawlet and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 42.3%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
36.1% VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
4.4%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $88,229±$36kHighest 9% above VT |
$65,625±$7k 19% below VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$62,273±$14kLowest 23% below VT |
| Rupert and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,500±$63kHighest 14% above VT |
$210,400±$15kLowest 34% below VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$266,200±$44k 16% below VT |
| Rupert and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,093±$58 11% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,153±$215Highest 7% below VT |
| Pawlet and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,594 9% below VT |
$5,192 3% above VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$3,924Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.6%±21.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
17.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
16% VT: 10.1% |
10% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
87.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 21 yrs older than VT |
1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1964 12 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
19 min 21% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
33 minHighest 40% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±9.2 VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
20.4%±8.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Pawlet 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 | — | #19 of 70 in VT | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Mettawee School District #84 |
| High school in town | — | Spaulding Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.