Compare towns
Ira vs Rupert vs Waltham
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 expensive homes ($363k median).
Waltham has the most people working from home (20.6%).
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 | Waltham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 381Lowest |
676Highest |
452 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.2% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 54.1±5.5Lowest 26% above VT |
57.8±9.7 34% above VT |
60.8±7.3Highest 41% above VT |
| Waltham and Rupert 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%±3.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±7.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Rupert and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.9%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
42.3%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
45.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Waltham and Rupert 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% |
30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±3.5Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Ira and Waltham 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 |
$97,500±$14kHighest 20% above VT |
| Waltham 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±$63kHighest 14% above VT |
$329,700±$51k 4% above VT |
| Rupert and Waltham 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 |
— | $1,096±$113Highest 11% below VT |
| Waltham 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 |
$5,714Highest 13% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
20%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±58.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Ira and Waltham 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% |
5.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
93.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 20% above VT |
27 minLowest 14% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±9.2 VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Waltham and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| 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.