Compare towns
Rupert vs Salem vs Pawlet
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rupert has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.2%).
Salem has the most affordable homes ($196k median).
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 | Salem | Pawlet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 676Lowest |
2,611Highest |
1,480 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.8±9.7Highest 49% above U.S. |
47.5±4.2Lowest 22% above U.S. |
47.9±7.5 23% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Pawlet and Salem 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% |
22.9%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pawlet 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. |
$83,398±$12k 3% above U.S. |
$62,273±$14kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Rupert and Salem 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. |
$196,000±$26kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$266,200±$44k 20% below U.S. |
| Rupert and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $948±$40Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,153±$215Highest 18% below U.S. |
| Pawlet and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,594Highest 47% above U.S. |
$3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$3,924 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±7.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.6%±21.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salem and Pawlet 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% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Highest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±9.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±12.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.4%±8.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem and Pawlet 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 | — | #376 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | — | SALEM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Mettawee School District #84 |
| High school in town | — | SALEM HIGH SCHOOL | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.