What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rupert has the most expensive homes ($363k median).

Orleans has the most affordable homes ($156k 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	Orleans
People
Population	676Lowest	809Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.2%Highest VT: +2.8%	-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	57.8±9.7Highest 34% above VT	41.7±5.8Lowest 3% below VT
Kids under 18	13.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9%	17.9%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9%
	Orleans and Rupert 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%	19.7%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.6%Highest VT: 43.8%	24.8%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7%	3.7%±2.1Highest VT: 7%
	Orleans 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 VT	$57,159±$10kLowest 30% below VT
	Rupert and Orleans 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	$156,300±$18kLowest 51% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$810±$94 34% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,594Highest 9% below VT	$3,019Lowest 40% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	20%±100Lowest VT: 48.4%	27.3%±17.2Highest VT: 48.4%
	Orleans and Rupert 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%	8.2%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.7%Highest VT: 73.2%	64.1%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1955Highest 21 yrs older than VT	1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 14% above VT	31 minHighest 33% above VT
Work from home	18.6%±9.2Highest VT: 16.9%	8.3%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Rupert and Orleans 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

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.