Compare towns
Rupert vs Castleton vs Waltham vs Sandgate
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).
Castleton has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Waltham has the highest household income ($98k).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
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 | Rupert | Castleton | Waltham | Sandgate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 676 |
4,453Highest |
452 |
435Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | — |
| Median age | 57.8±9.7 34% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
60.8±7.3Highest 41% above VT |
55.7±5.4 29% above VT |
| Waltham and Rupert 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% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±7.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±7.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Rupert 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% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
45.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
26%±11.3 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% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
39%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $88,229±$36k 9% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$97,500±$14kHighest 20% above VT |
$69,167±$19kLowest 15% below 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 |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$329,700±$51k 4% above VT |
$193,800±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
| Rupert and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$1,096±$113Lowest 11% below VT |
— |
| Castleton and Waltham 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 |
$3,167 37% below VT |
$5,714Highest 13% above VT |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±58.6 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton 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% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.3% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1959 17 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±9.2 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate and Waltham 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 | — | — |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.