Compare towns
Rupert vs Braintree vs Waltham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rupert has the most expensive homes ($363k median).
Braintree has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Waltham has the highest household income ($98k).
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 | Braintree | Waltham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 676 |
1,026Highest |
452Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 57.8±9.7Lowest 34% above VT |
58.4±2.4 35% above VT |
60.8±7.3Highest 41% above VT |
| Waltham and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±3.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±7.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Rupert and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 42.3%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
45.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Waltham and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
30.9% VT: 43.8% |
39%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Waltham and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,229±$36k 9% above VT |
$79,803±$5kLowest about the VT average |
$97,500±$14kHighest 20% above VT |
| Waltham and Rupert 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 |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$329,700±$51k 4% above VT |
| Rupert and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,096±$113Highest 11% below VT |
| Waltham and Braintree 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 |
$3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
$5,714Highest 13% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±58.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Braintree and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6% VT: 10.1% |
11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
26 minLowest 11% above VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±9.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Waltham and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | — |
| High school 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.