Compare towns
Waltham vs Calais 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 most affordable homes ($330k median).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Rupert has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Calais | Rupert |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 452Lowest |
1,713Highest |
676 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 60.8±7.3Highest 41% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
57.8±9.7 34% above VT |
| Waltham and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±7.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Rupert 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% |
21.6%±5.2Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Calais and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,500±$14k 20% above VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$88,229±$36kLowest 9% above VT |
| Calais and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $329,700±$51kLowest 4% above VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$362,500±$63k 14% above VT |
| Calais and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$113Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
— |
| Calais and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,714 13% above VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$4,594Lowest 9% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±58.6 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
20%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Calais 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% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
93.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
27 minLowest 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±9.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.