What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Waltham has the most people working from home (20.6%).

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	Waltham
People
Population	676Highest	452Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.2% VT: +2.8%	—
Median age	57.8±9.7Lowest 34% above VT	60.8±7.3Highest 41% above VT
	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 VT: 17.9%	12.8%±7.4Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Rupert and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	42.3%±8.1Lowest VT: 21.4%	45.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4%
	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 VT: 43.8%	39%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7%	3.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7%
	Waltham 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±$36kLowest 9% above VT	$97,500±$14kHighest 20% above VT
	Waltham and Rupert 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	$329,700±$51kLowest 4% above VT
	Rupert and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,096±$113 11% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,594Lowest 9% below VT	$5,714Highest 13% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	20%±100Lowest VT: 48.4%	29.2%±58.6Highest VT: 48.4%
	Waltham and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6%Highest VT: 10.1%	5.3%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.7%Highest VT: 73.2%	86.3%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT	1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 14% above VT	28 minHighest 18% above VT
Work from home	18.6%±9.2Lowest VT: 16.9%	20.6%±5.7Highest VT: 16.9%
	Waltham and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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.