Compare towns
Ira vs Rupert vs Northfield
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).
Rupert has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
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 | Rupert | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 381Lowest |
676 |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.1±5.5 26% above VT |
57.8±9.7Highest 34% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below 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% |
13.9%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Northfield 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% |
42.3%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
$88,229±$36kHighest 9% above VT |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
| Rupert and Ira 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 |
$362,500±$63kHighest 14% above VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
— | $1,018±$207Highest 18% below VT |
| Northfield 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 |
$4,594 9% below VT |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
20%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield 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% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
93.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1956 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 20% above VT |
27 minLowest 14% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±9.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Rupert and Northfield 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 | — | — | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | — | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | — | — | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.0 |
| 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.