Compare towns
Ira vs Rupert vs Sandgate vs Williston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rupert has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Williston has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
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 | Sandgate | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 381Lowest |
676 |
435 |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.1±5.5 26% above VT |
57.8±9.7Highest 34% above VT |
55.7±5.4 29% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% above VT |
| Rupert and Sandgate 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% |
13.1%±7.5 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Williston 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% |
26%±11.3 VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.1% VT: 43.8% |
30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.8% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Williston 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±$5k 12% below VT |
$88,229±$36k 9% above VT |
$69,167±$19kLowest 15% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
| Williston 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±$18k 14% below VT |
$362,500±$63k 14% above VT |
$193,800±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
— | — | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,146 18% below VT |
$4,594 9% below VT |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
20%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Williston 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% VT: 10.1% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
93.7% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1959 17 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 20% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±9.2 VT: 16.9% |
34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate and Williston 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 | — | — | — | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | — | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | — | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.