Compare towns
Rupert vs Bennington 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 most expensive homes ($363k median).
Bennington has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Bennington | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 676 |
15,249Highest |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 57.8±9.7Highest 34% above VT |
44.7±2.3Lowest 4% 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% |
17.7%±2.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Bennington and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 42.3%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.2%±2.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
36.9% VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Bennington and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,229±$36kHighest 9% above VT |
$59,446±$7kLowest 27% below VT |
$71,827±$5k 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 | $362,500±$63kHighest 14% above VT |
$213,300±$15kLowest 33% below VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,133±$63Highest 8% below VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,594Highest 9% below VT |
$4,513 10% below VT |
$4,146Lowest 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13.2% VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1961 15 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
17 minLowest 27% below VT |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±9.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Rupert and Bennington 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 | — | #58 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | — |
| High school in town | — | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.