Compare towns
Rupert vs Castleton vs Pawlet vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rupert has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.2%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Pawlet has the most kids (20.3% under 18).
Salem has the most affordable homes ($196k median).
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 | Castleton | Pawlet | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 676Lowest |
4,453Highest |
1,480 |
2,611 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.8±9.7Highest 49% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
47.9±7.5 23% above U.S. |
47.5±4.2 22% above U.S. |
| 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%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Pawlet and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 42.3%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $88,229±$36kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$62,273±$14kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$83,398±$12k 3% above U.S. |
| Rupert and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,500±$63kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$266,200±$44k 20% below U.S. |
$196,000±$26kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Rupert and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,153±$215Highest 18% below U.S. |
$948±$40Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Pawlet and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,594Highest 47% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,924 26% above U.S. |
$3,908 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.6%±21.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±7.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
10% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±9.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.4%±8.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±12.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem and Pawlet 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — | #376 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Mettawee School District #84 | SALEM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | SALEM HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 8.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.