Compare towns
Waltham vs Stratton vs Panton 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 most affordable homes ($330k median).
Stratton has the youngest population (median age 31.5).
Panton has the most people working from home (26.7%).
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 | Stratton | Panton | Rupert |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 452Lowest |
532 |
690Highest |
676 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -4.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 60.8±7.3Highest 41% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
42.7±3.8 about the VT average |
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% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
24.9%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Panton 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% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
16.7%±2.9 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.2% VT: 43.8% |
35.1% VT: 43.8% |
30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.3 VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Waltham and Panton 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 |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$86,667±$10kLowest 7% above VT |
$88,229±$36k 9% above VT |
| Stratton 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 |
$400,000±$50k 26% above VT |
$438,000±$40kHighest 38% above VT |
$362,500±$63k 14% above VT |
| Panton and Stratton 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 |
$1,208±$979 about the VT average |
$1,410±$130Highest 14% above VT |
— |
| Panton and Stratton 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 |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$6,695Highest 33% above VT |
$4,594Lowest 9% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±58.6 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
61%±39Highest VT: 48.4% |
20%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Panton and Waltham 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% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
3.2% VT: 10.1% |
6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
83.7% VT: 73.2% |
93.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
26 minLowest 11% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±8.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±9.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Panton and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.