Compare towns
Rupert vs Windham vs Pawlet 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).
Windham has the highest household income ($95k).
Pawlet has the most kids (20.3% under 18).
Salem has the most affordable homes ($196k median).
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 | Windham | Pawlet | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 676 |
594Lowest |
1,480 |
2,611Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.8±9.7Highest 49% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
47.9±7.5 23% above U.S. |
47.5±4.2 22% above U.S. |
| Rupert and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Pawlet and Windham 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% |
23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pawlet 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±$36k 9% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$62,273±$14kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$83,398±$12k 3% above U.S. |
| Windham 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 9% above U.S. |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$266,200±$44k 20% below U.S. |
$196,000±$26kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Rupert and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,153±$215Highest 18% below U.S. |
$948±$40Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Pawlet and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,594 47% above U.S. |
$5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
$3,924 26% above U.S. |
$3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.6%±21.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±7.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salem and Pawlet 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% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
10% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±9.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.4%±8.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±12.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem and Windham 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 | — | — | — | #376 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | — | Mettawee School District #84 | 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.