Compare towns
Waltham vs Rupert vs Peru
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 most people working from home (20.6%).
Rupert has the most kids (13.9% under 18).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
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 | Rupert | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 452 |
676Highest |
434Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.2% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 60.8±7.3Highest 41% above VT |
57.8±9.7 34% above VT |
45.3±8.6Lowest 5% 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%±7.4 VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±3.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest 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%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
21.4%±5Lowest 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% |
30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.8%±3.2Lowest 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±$14k 20% above VT |
$88,229±$36kLowest 9% above VT |
$151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
| Peru and Waltham 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±$63k 14% above VT |
$400,000±$105kHighest 26% above VT |
| Peru 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 |
— | $1,271±$820Highest about the VT average |
| Peru and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,714Highest 13% above VT |
$4,594Lowest 9% below VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±58.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
20%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
29%±47.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Waltham and Peru 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% |
6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% VT: 73.2% |
93.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
27 minLowest 14% above VT |
28 minHighest 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±9.2 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±16.4Lowest 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 | 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.