Compare towns
Rupert vs Salisbury vs Waltham
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 the most homeowners (93.7%).
Salisbury has the most expensive homes ($479k median).
Waltham has the most affordable homes ($330k 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.
| Measure | Rupert | Salisbury | Waltham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 676 |
9,281Highest |
452Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 57.8±9.7 49% above U.S. |
51.3±3.5Lowest 32% above U.S. |
60.8±7.3Highest 56% above U.S. |
| 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%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Rupert and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 42.3%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
45.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salisbury 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±$36kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$93,361±$6k 16% above U.S. |
$97,500±$14kHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Waltham and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,500±$63k 9% above U.S. |
$478,700±$27kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$329,700±$51kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,691±$411Highest 20% above U.S. |
$1,096±$113Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,594Lowest 47% above U.S. |
$4,604 48% above U.S. |
$5,714Highest 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±11.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±58.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salisbury and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±9.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waltham and Salisbury 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 | — | #240 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Triton | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.