Compare towns
Rupert vs Barre vs Middlesex vs Ira
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).
Barre has the most renters (49.6% rent).
Middlesex has the most kids (21.3% 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 | Rupert | Barre | Middlesex | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 676 |
8,412Highest |
1,943 |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2% VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 57.8±9.7Highest 34% above VT |
42.2±6.6Lowest about the VT average |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
54.1±5.5 26% 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 | 13.9%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 42.3%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
36.1% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $88,229±$36k 9% above VT |
$65,625±$7kLowest 19% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
| Middlesex and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,500±$63k 14% above VT |
$210,400±$15kLowest 34% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
| Middlesex and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,093±$58 11% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
| Middlesex and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,594 9% below VT |
$5,192 3% above VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,146Lowest 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100 VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Ira and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6% VT: 10.1% |
17.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7% VT: 73.2% |
50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 21 yrs older than VT |
1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±9.2 VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Rupert 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 | — | #19 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | — | Spaulding Union High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— | — |
| 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.