Compare towns
Rupert vs Hartford vs Waltham
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).
Hartford has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Waltham has the most people working from home (20.6%).
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 | Hartford | Waltham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 676 |
10,736Highest |
452Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 57.8±9.7 34% above VT |
43.2±3.9Lowest about the VT average |
60.8±7.3Highest 41% 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%±3Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±7.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Hartford 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% |
22.5%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
45.4%±3.1Highest 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% |
47.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
4.9%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Hartford and Waltham 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 VT |
$78,125±$7kLowest 4% below VT |
$97,500±$14kHighest 20% above 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 |
$304,500±$26kLowest 4% below VT |
$329,700±$51k 4% above VT |
| Rupert and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,218±$118Highest about the VT average |
$1,096±$113Lowest 11% below VT |
| Hartford and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,594Lowest 9% below VT |
$5,773Highest 15% above VT |
$5,714 13% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±12.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±58.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Hartford 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% |
11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
18 minLowest 22% below VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±9.2 VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Waltham 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 | — |
| High school in town | — | Hartford High School | — |
| 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.