What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).

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	Topsham
People
Population	676Lowest	999Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	57.8±9.7Highest 34% above VT	50.1±5.9Lowest 16% above VT
	Rupert and Topsham 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%	18%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9%
	Topsham 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%	23.2%±4.8Lowest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.6%Highest VT: 43.8%	28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.1%±2.5Highest VT: 7%	1.7%±1.3Lowest VT: 7%
	Rupert and Topsham 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	$72,308±$60kLowest 11% below VT
	Rupert and Topsham 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	$222,900±$56kLowest 30% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$908±$398 26% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,594Highest 9% below VT	$4,006Lowest 21% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	20%±100Lowest VT: 48.4%	91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4%
	Topsham 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%	18.8%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.7%Highest VT: 73.2%	90.3%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT	1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 14% above VT	35 minHighest 49% above VT
Work from home	18.6%±9.2Highest VT: 16.9%	14.2%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Rupert and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	Waits River Union High District #36
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.