Compare towns
Rupert vs Chester 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 the highest household income ($88k).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
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 | Chester | Pawlet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 676Lowest |
2,992Highest |
1,480 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 57.8±9.7Highest 34% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
47.9±7.5Lowest 11% above VT |
| Rupert and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
20.3%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Pawlet and Chester 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% |
29.8%±7.9 VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Rupert and Chester 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% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
37.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
4.4%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Chester and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,229±$36kHighest 9% above VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$62,273±$14k 23% below VT |
| Rupert and Pawlet 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 |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
$266,200±$44k 16% below VT |
| Rupert and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,153±$215Highest 7% below VT |
| Pawlet and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,594Highest 9% below VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
$3,924Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.6%±21.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Pawlet and Rupert 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% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
10%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1972Highest 4 yrs older than VT |
1964 12 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 14% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
33 minHighest 40% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±9.2 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest 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 | — | #49 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Mettawee School District #84 |
| High school in town | — | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— |
| 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.