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Rupert VT Real Estate: Country Homes and Land near Dorset and Merck Forest

By Tony Walton, Principal Broker, New England Landmark Realty

Quick Answer

Rupert is a small Bennington County town of about 700 people on the New York border, west of Dorset and northwest of Manchester. It's a landscape of farms, forest, and the Taconic Mountains, home to the 3,644-acre Merck Forest & Farmland Center. Children attend the Mettawee Community School through the elementary grades, and for the upper grades Rupert families can choose any public or approved independent school, including Burr and Burton Academy and public schools in New York. Current Rupert listings appear at the bottom of this page, and our Rupert market report shows recent sales and prices.

Rupert at a Glance

• County: Bennington
• ZIP codes: 05768 (Rupert) and 05776 (West Rupert); some addresses use Dorset (05251) or Pawlet (05761)
• Population: 698 (2020 Census)
• Area: about 44.6 square miles
• Villages: Rupert, East Rupert, North Rupert, and West Rupert
• Borders: Washington County, New York, to the west and Rutland County to the north
• Schools: Mettawee Community School (elementary, shared with Pawlet); school choice for the upper grades

Living in Rupert

Rupert is a rural corner of southern Vermont: working farms, hayfields, and wooded ridges, with Dorset's village and Manchester's shops a short drive east. Its best-known landmark is the Merck Forest & Farmland Center, a 3,644-acre nonprofit working farm and forest in the Taconic Mountains with hiking trails, cabins, and year-round programs open to the public.

Rupert has some unusual history, too. Harmon's Mint, which made Vermont's own copper coins, the "Vermont coppers," in the years when Vermont was an independent republic, operated here. More recently, Rupert was the filming location for the early seasons of the PBS cooking show Cook's Country.

Schools and School Choice

Rupert and Pawlet children attend the Mettawee Community School for the elementary grades. Rupert doesn't operate a middle or high school; students can attend any public or approved independent school. Options the town lists include Burr and Burton Academy in Manchester, Long Trail School in Dorset, and public schools in New York such as Salem and Granville. Check current tuition rules with the Bennington-Rutland Supervisory Union.

Homes and Land in Rupert

Buyers in Rupert find farmhouses, country homes on acreage, farms, and open and wooded land. See what's for sale now in the listings below, and check recent sale prices in the Rupert market report, which updates as homes sell.

Buying land or a home on a back road? Check road access in winter and mud season, septic and well permits, and whether the land is enrolled in Current Use. Our Vermont Land Buying Guide walks through it.

Getting Around

• Vermont Route 315 climbs east over the hills from Rupert, past Merck Forest, toward Dorset and Manchester.
• Vermont Route 153 runs through West Rupert near the New York line.
• Vermont Route 30 also serves the town, connecting toward Dorset and Pawlet.

Costs to Plan For

Vermont's property transfer tax, paid by the buyer at closing, is 0.5% on the first $200,000 of a primary residence and 1.47% above that; 3.62% for a second home; and a VHFA-financed primary residence is exempt on the first $250,000. Estimate your payment, transfer tax, and cash to close with our Vermont Home Cost Calculator. Most Rupert homes have private wells and septic systems, so plan for water testing and a septic inspection; see our Vermont home inspection guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is Rupert, VT in?

Bennington County, on the New York border west of Dorset.

What are the ZIP codes for Rupert, VT?

05768 for Rupert and 05776 for West Rupert. Some addresses in town use Dorset (05251) or Pawlet (05761).

What schools serve Rupert?

The Mettawee Community School for the elementary grades, shared with Pawlet. For the upper grades, Rupert students can attend any public or approved independent school, including Burr and Burton Academy, Long Trail School, and public schools in Salem and Granville, New York.

What is Merck Forest?

The Merck Forest & Farmland Center is a 3,644-acre nonprofit working farm and forest in Rupert, with hiking trails, cabins, and programs open to the public.

How do I see recent home prices in Rupert?

Our Rupert market report lists recent sales, prices, and days on market, and updates automatically.

What to Do Next

Call our office at 802-253-4711, reach Tony Walton directly at 802-233-4107, or contact us.

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• Vermont Home Buying Guide
• Vermont Land Buying Guide
• Nearby towns: Dorset, Manchester, Winhall

Sources

• Rupert, Vermont (county, population, area, villages, ZIP codes, highways, Harmon's Mint, Cook's Country)
• Town of Rupert, Schools
• Merck Forest & Farmland Center
• Vermont Department of Taxes, Property Transfer Tax