Compare towns
Rupert vs Williston vs Sandgate vs Salem
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 oldest population (median age 57.8).
Williston has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Salem has the oldest housing (typical home built 1938).
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 | Williston | Sandgate | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 676 |
10,144Highest |
435Lowest |
2,611 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.8±9.7Highest 49% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Lowest 17% above U.S. |
55.7±5.4 43% above U.S. |
47.5±4.2 22% above U.S. |
| Rupert and Sandgate 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±7.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Williston and Salem 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% |
21%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±11.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rupert and Sandgate 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% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $88,229±$36k 9% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$69,167±$19kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$83,398±$12k 3% above U.S. |
| Williston 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±$63k 9% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$193,800±$31kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$196,000±$26k 41% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
— | $948±$40Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,594 47% above U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$2,778Lowest 11% below U.S. |
$3,908 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±7.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williston and Salem 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% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±9.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
34.6%±32.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±12.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sandgate and Salem 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — | #376 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — | SALEM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | SALEM HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 8.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.