Compare towns
Ira vs Manchester 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 affordable homes ($273k median).
Manchester has the shortest commute (14 min average).
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 | Ira | Manchester | Rupert |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 381Lowest |
4,486Highest |
676 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.1±5.5Lowest 26% above VT |
54.5±6.3 26% above VT |
57.8±9.7Highest 34% above VT |
| Rupert and Manchester 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% |
16.9%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Manchester 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% |
25.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
42.3%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.1% VT: 43.8% |
47.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
5.8%±3Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Manchester and Ira 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 |
$94,886±$23kHighest 17% above VT |
$88,229±$36k 9% above VT |
| Manchester and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,900±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
$454,600±$47kHighest 44% above VT |
$362,500±$63k 14% above VT |
| Manchester and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,057±$76Highest 14% below VT |
— |
| Manchester and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,146Lowest 18% below VT |
$5,923Highest 18% above VT |
$4,594 9% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
56.5%±13.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
20%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Manchester and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.4% VT: 10.1% |
16.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
73.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 20% above VT |
14 minLowest 39% below VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±9.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Manchester and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #37 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | — |
| 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.