What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Waldo has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.3%).

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	Waldo
People
Population	676Lowest	926Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	57.8±9.7Highest 49% above U.S.	37.5±9.6Lowest 4% below U.S.
Kids under 18	13.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Waldo 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 U.S.: 17.2%	12.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	36.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.8%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Rupert and Waldo 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.	$71,458±$21kLowest 11% below U.S.
	Rupert and Waldo 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.	$208,000±$41kLowest 37% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,150±$691 19% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,594Highest 47% above U.S.	$1,623Lowest 48% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	74.1%±36.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Waldo and Rupert 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%	10.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	84.6%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 minHighest about the U.S. average	20 minLowest 25% below U.S.
Work from home	18.6%±9.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	15.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Rupert and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	Waldo-Region 7
High school in town	—	None in town
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.