Compare towns

Ira vs Jay vs Rupert

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ira has the most renters (9.3% rent).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
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.

MeasureIraJayRupert
People
Population
381Lowest
471
676Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+5.8%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-2.2%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
54.1±5.5
26% above VT
52.1±10.5Lowest
21% 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
10.5%±4.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
14.2%±7.3Highest
VT: 17.9%
13.9%±3.7
VT: 17.9%
Jay and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
28.9%±3.3
VT: 21.4%
15.5%±6.3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
42.3%±8.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
37.1%
VT: 43.8%
45.1%Highest
VT: 43.8%
30.6%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.4%±3.5Highest
VT: 7%
1.9%±2.5Lowest
VT: 7%
2.1%±2.5
VT: 7%
Ira and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$71,827±$5kLowest
12% below VT
$74,792±$25k
8% below VT
$88,229±$36kHighest
9% above VT
Rupert and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$272,900±$18k
14% below VT
$234,200±$45kLowest
26% below VT
$362,500±$63kHighest
14% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$942±$52
24% below VT
— —
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,146
18% below VT
$3,588Lowest
29% below VT
$4,594Highest
9% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
36.4%±100
VT: 48.4%
40%±100Highest
VT: 48.4%
20%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Jay and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
14.4%Highest
VT: 10.1%
8.7%
VT: 10.1%
6%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
97%Highest
VT: 73.2%
93.7%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
1 yr older than VT
2001Highest
25 yrs newer than VT
1955Lowest
21 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
20% above VT
40 minHighest
69% above VT
27 minLowest
14% above VT
Work from home
2.3%±2.2Lowest
VT: 16.9%
27.3%±13.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
18.6%±9.2
VT: 16.9%
Jay and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District —
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.