Compare towns

Waltham vs Dover vs Rupert vs Panton

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).
Dover has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Rupert has the most homeowners (93.7%).
Panton has the most kids (24.9% under 18).

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.

MeasureWalthamDoverRupertPanton
People
Population
452Lowest
1,466Highest
676
690
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+60%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-2.2%
VT: +2.8%
-4.6%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
60.8±7.3Highest
41% above VT
53.5±8.3
24% above VT
57.8±9.7
34% above VT
42.7±3.8Lowest
about the VT average
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%±7.4
VT: 17.9%
10.2%±5.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
13.9%±3.7
VT: 17.9%
24.9%±5.3Highest
VT: 17.9%
Age 65+
45.4%±3.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
29.5%±6.2
VT: 21.4%
42.3%±8.1
VT: 21.4%
16.7%±2.9Lowest
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%
48.9%Highest
VT: 43.8%
30.6%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
35.1%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.1%±2.1Highest
VT: 7%
2.5%±2.9
VT: 7%
2.1%±2.5Lowest
VT: 7%
2.3%±1.3
VT: 7%
Waltham and Dover 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
$52,313±$7kLowest
36% below VT
$88,229±$36k
9% above VT
$86,667±$10k
7% 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±$51kLowest
4% above VT
$332,900±$55k
5% above VT
$362,500±$63k
14% above VT
$438,000±$40kHighest
38% above VT
Panton and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,096±$113
11% below VT
$670±$49Lowest
46% below VT
—
$1,410±$130Highest
14% above VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,714
13% above VT
$4,510Lowest
10% below VT
$4,594
9% below VT
$6,695Highest
33% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
29.2%±58.6
VT: 48.4%
38.1%±17.2
VT: 48.4%
20%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
61%±39Highest
VT: 48.4%
Panton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.3%
VT: 10.1%
7.3%Highest
VT: 10.1%
6%
VT: 10.1%
3.2%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.3%
VT: 73.2%
81.1%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
93.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
83.7%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
10 yrs newer than VT
1984
8 yrs newer than VT
1955Lowest
21 yrs older than VT
1974
2 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
18% above VT
22 minLowest
6% below VT
27 min
14% above VT
26 min
11% above VT
Work from home
20.6%±5.7
VT: 16.9%
23.2%±11.1
VT: 16.9%
18.6%±9.2Lowest
VT: 16.9%
26.7%±8.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
Panton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — River Valleys Unified School District #73 — —
High school in town — None in town — —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.