Compare towns

Waltham vs Jackson 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

Waltham has the most people working from home (20.6%).
Jackson has the most affordable homes ($235k 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.

MeasureWalthamJacksonRupert
People
Population
452Lowest
1,695Highest
676
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-4.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
60.8±7.3Highest
56% above U.S.
56.9±3.6Lowest
46% above U.S.
57.8±9.7
49% above U.S.
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
U.S.: 22%
14.6%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
13.9%±3.7
U.S.: 22%
Jackson 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
U.S.: 17.2%
33.4%±5.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
42.3%±8.1
U.S.: 17.2%
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
U.S.: 35.7%
32.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
30.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.1%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.8%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.1%±2.5
U.S.: 6.4%
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
21% above U.S.
$77,375±$8kLowest
4% below U.S.
$88,229±$36k
9% above U.S.
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
about the U.S. average
$235,400±$40kLowest
29% below U.S.
$362,500±$63kHighest
9% above U.S.
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±$113Lowest
22% below U.S.
$1,139±$43Highest
19% below U.S.
—
Jackson and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,714Highest
83% above U.S.
$4,165Lowest
34% above U.S.
$4,594
47% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
29.2%±58.6
U.S.: 51.1%
77.8%±44.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
20%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Jackson 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
U.S.: 12.5%
7.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
91.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
93.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1955Lowest
25 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
5% above U.S.
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
20.6%±5.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.6%±9.2
U.S.: 15.1%
Waltham and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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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.