Compare towns
Waltham vs Reading 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).
Reading has the most kids (18.5% under 18).
Rupert has the most homeowners (93.7%).
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 | Reading | Rupert |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 452Lowest |
699Highest |
676 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 60.8±7.3Highest 41% above VT |
51.1±7.6Lowest 19% 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% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3Lowest 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% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,500±$14kHighest 20% above VT |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above 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±$51kLowest 4% above VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$362,500±$63k 14% above VT |
| Reading 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 |
$1,100±$331Highest 11% below VT |
— |
| Reading 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 |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,594Lowest 9% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±58.6 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
20%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading 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% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
27 minLowest 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±9.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — |
| 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.