Compare towns

Rupert vs Webster 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 expensive homes ($363k median).
Webster has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
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.

MeasureRupertWebsterWaltham
People
Population
676
2,227Highest
452Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
57.8±9.7
49% above U.S.
44.7±7.6Lowest
15% 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%±3.7
U.S.: 22%
22.6%±8Highest
U.S.: 22%
12.8%±7.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Webster and Rupert 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%
19.4%±1.3Lowest
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%
30.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
39%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.1%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
3.1%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Waltham and Webster 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.
$107,171±$14kHighest
33% above U.S.
$97,500±$14k
21% above U.S.
Webster and Waltham 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.
$338,500±$30k
about the U.S. average
$329,700±$51kLowest
about the U.S. average
Rupert and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,396±$622Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,096±$113Lowest
22% below U.S.
Webster and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,594Lowest
47% above U.S.
$6,021Highest
93% above U.S.
$5,714
83% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
20%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
53.6%±71Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
29.2%±58.6
U.S.: 51.1%
Webster and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6%
U.S.: 12.5%
9.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
96%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1955Lowest
25 yrs older than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
31 minHighest
16% above U.S.
28 min
5% above U.S.
Work from home
18.6%±9.2
U.S.: 15.1%
17.1%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.6%±5.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Waltham and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Merrimack Valley School District —
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.