Compare towns
Rupert vs Hartford 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 oldest population (median age 57.8).
Hartford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
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 | Hartford | Pawlet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 676Lowest |
10,736Highest |
1,480 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2% VT: +2.8% |
+7.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 57.8±9.7Highest 34% above VT |
43.2±3.9Lowest about the VT average |
47.9±7.5 11% above VT |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
18%±3 VT: 17.9% |
20.3%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Pawlet and Hartford 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% |
22.5%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
47.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
4.9%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
4.4%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Hartford 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 |
$78,125±$7k 4% below VT |
$62,273±$14kLowest 23% below VT |
| Rupert and Hartford 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 |
$304,500±$26k 4% below VT |
$266,200±$44kLowest 16% below VT |
| Rupert and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,218±$118Highest about the VT average |
$1,153±$215Lowest 7% below VT |
| Hartford and Pawlet 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 |
$5,773Highest 15% above VT |
$3,924Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±12.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.6%±21.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Hartford and Pawlet 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% |
11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1964 12 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
18 minLowest 22% below VT |
33 minHighest 40% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±9.2 VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest 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 | — | #34 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Hartford School District | Mettawee School District #84 |
| High school in town | — | Hartford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.