What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rupert has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.2%).

Jefferson has the most affordable homes ($297k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Rupert	Jefferson
People
Population	676Lowest	1,013Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	57.8±9.7Lowest 49% above U.S.	58±3.5Highest 49% above U.S.
	Jefferson and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22%	12.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Rupert and Jefferson 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%	33.7%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Rupert and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	28.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	2.2%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Jefferson and Rupert 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 U.S.	$67,188±$13kLowest 17% below U.S.
	Rupert and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$362,500±$63kHighest 9% above U.S.	$296,700±$92kLowest 11% below U.S.
	Rupert and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$867±$156 39% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,594Highest 47% above U.S.	$4,196Lowest 35% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	20%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%	16.7%±71.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Rupert and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	90.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S.	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	35 minHighest 31% above U.S.
Work from home	18.6%±9.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	17.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Rupert and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.