Compare towns
Rupert vs Jay vs Wardsboro
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).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Wardsboro has the most kids (18.8% 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 | Jay | Wardsboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 676 |
471Lowest |
820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 57.8±9.7Highest 34% above VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
51.6±7.3Lowest 20% above VT |
| Rupert and Jay 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% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Wardsboro and Jay 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% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
38.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Rupert and Jay 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 |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$62,000±$6kLowest 24% below VT |
| Rupert and Jay 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 |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$299,300±$47k 5% below VT |
| Rupert and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,479±$224 20% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,594Highest 9% below VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,345 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wardsboro and Jay 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% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
27 minLowest 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±9.2 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.