Compare towns
Waltham vs Braintree vs Rupert
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waltham has the highest household income ($98k).
Braintree has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
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 | Waltham | Braintree | Rupert |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 452Lowest |
1,026Highest |
676 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 60.8±7.3Highest 41% above VT |
58.4±2.4 35% above VT |
57.8±9.7Lowest 34% above VT |
| Waltham and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±7.4 VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±3.7Highest 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+ | 45.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
42.3%±8.1 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+ | 39%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.9% VT: 43.8% |
30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.5 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 | $97,500±$14kHighest 20% above VT |
$79,803±$5kLowest about the VT average |
$88,229±$36k 9% 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 | $329,700±$51k 4% above VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$362,500±$63kHighest 14% 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±$113Highest 11% below VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
— |
| Waltham and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,714Highest 13% above VT |
$3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,594 9% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±58.6 VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
20%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Braintree and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% VT: 73.2% |
81%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 18% above VT |
26 minLowest 11% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±9.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Waltham and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.