What stands out worked out from the figures below

Waltham has the most people working from home (20.6%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Waltham	Rupert
People
Population	452Lowest	676Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-2.2% VT: +2.8%
Median age	60.8±7.3Highest 41% above VT	57.8±9.7Lowest 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%	13.9%±3.7Highest VT: 17.9%
	Rupert and Waltham 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%	42.3%±8.1Lowest 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%Highest VT: 43.8%	30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7%	2.1%±2.5Lowest 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	$88,229±$36kLowest 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	$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	$4,594Lowest 9% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29.2%±58.6Highest VT: 48.4%	20%±100Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Waltham and Rupert 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%	6%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Lowest VT: 73.2%	93.7%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT	1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 18% above VT	27 minLowest 14% above VT
Work from home	20.6%±5.7Highest VT: 16.9%	18.6%±9.2Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Waltham and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.