Compare towns
Rupert vs Epping 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 the oldest population (median age 57.8).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Epping | Pawlet | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 676Lowest |
7,430Highest |
1,480 |
2,611 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.8±9.7Highest 49% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Lowest 16% above U.S. |
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% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Pawlet and Epping 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% |
22.6%±5.2Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Epping 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±$36k 9% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$62,273±$14kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$83,398±$12k 3% above U.S. |
| Epping 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±$63k 9% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$266,200±$44k 20% below U.S. |
$196,000±$26kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Epping and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,153±$215 18% below U.S. |
$948±$40Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Epping and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,594 47% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$3,924 26% above U.S. |
$3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.6%±21.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±7.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest 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% |
86.3% 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. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±9.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.4%±8.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±12.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Salem 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 | — | #77 of 120 in NH | — | #376 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | Epping School District | Mettawee School District #84 | SALEM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | Epping High School | None in town | SALEM HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Highest |
— | 8.5Lowest |
| 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.