Compare towns
Calais vs Ira vs Rupert
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Ira has the most affordable homes ($273k median).
Rupert has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
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 | Calais | Ira | Rupert |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,713Highest |
381Lowest |
676 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
54.1±5.5 26% above VT |
57.8±9.7Highest 34% above VT |
| Rupert and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
42.3%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Calais and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
$88,229±$36k 9% above VT |
| Calais and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$272,900±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
$362,500±$63k 14% above VT |
| Calais and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$4,146Lowest 18% below VT |
$4,594 9% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
20%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.8% VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest same as VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
27 minLowest 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±9.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | — |
| 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.