Compare towns
Ira vs Middlesex vs Ripton 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).
Middlesex has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Ripton has the shortest commute (24 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 | Middlesex | Ripton | Rupert |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 381Lowest |
1,943Highest |
508 |
676 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.1±5.5 26% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 28.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
42.3%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Rupert and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.1% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$88,229±$36k 9% above VT |
| Ripton and Middlesex 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 |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$362,500±$63k 14% above VT |
| Ripton and Middlesex 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 |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
— | — |
| Middlesex 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 |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,594 9% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
20%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton 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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
93.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 20% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±9.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.