Compare towns

Waltham vs Jay 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).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
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.

MeasureWalthamJayRupert
People
Population
452Lowest
471
676Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+5.8%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-2.2%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
60.8±7.3Highest
41% above VT
52.1±10.5Lowest
21% above VT
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%
14.2%±7.3Highest
VT: 17.9%
13.9%±3.7
VT: 17.9%
Jay 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%
15.5%±6.3Lowest
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%
45.1%Highest
VT: 43.8%
30.6%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.1%±2.1Highest
VT: 7%
1.9%±2.5Lowest
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
$74,792±$25kLowest
8% below VT
$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
$234,200±$45kLowest
26% 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±$113
11% below VT
— —
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,714Highest
13% above VT
$3,588Lowest
29% below VT
$4,594
9% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
29.2%±58.6
VT: 48.4%
40%±100Highest
VT: 48.4%
20%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Jay 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%
8.7%Highest
VT: 10.1%
6%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.3%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
97%Highest
VT: 73.2%
93.7%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986
10 yrs newer than VT
2001Highest
25 yrs newer than VT
1955Lowest
21 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
18% above VT
40 minHighest
69% above VT
27 minLowest
14% above VT
Work from home
20.6%±5.7
VT: 16.9%
27.3%±13.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
18.6%±9.2Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Jay and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District —
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.