Compare towns
Ira vs Rupert vs Strafford
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%).
Strafford has the most kids (23% 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 | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 381Lowest |
676 |
1,372Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.1±5.5 26% above VT |
57.8±9.7Highest 34% above VT |
51.4±4.7Lowest 19% 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% |
13.9%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 28.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
42.3%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.1% VT: 43.8% |
30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Strafford 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 |
$88,229±$36k 9% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford 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 |
$362,500±$63k 14% above VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford 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 |
— | $1,125±$789Highest 9% below VT |
| Strafford 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 |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
20%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Strafford 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% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
93.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 20% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±9.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Rupert and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | Strafford 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.