Compare towns
Salem vs Brattleboro vs Rupert
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salem has the most affordable homes ($196k median).
Brattleboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
Rupert has the most expensive homes ($363k 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 | Salem | Brattleboro | Rupert |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,611 |
12,122Highest |
676Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±4.2 22% above U.S. |
45.6±4.5Lowest 17% above U.S. |
57.8±9.7Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Rupert and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
19%±2.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brattleboro and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
42.3%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brattleboro and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,398±$12k 3% above U.S. |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$88,229±$36kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Rupert and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,000±$26kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$257,300±$18k 23% below U.S. |
$362,500±$63kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$40Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,074±$58Highest 24% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$5,700Highest 83% above U.S. |
$4,594 47% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±7.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±9.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brattleboro and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 17.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Highest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Highest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 22.8%±12.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±9.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem and Rupert 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 | #33 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | SALEM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — |
| High school in town | SALEM HIGH SCHOOL | Brattleboro Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.5Lowest |
9.0Highest |
— |
| 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.