Compare towns
Rupert vs Manchester 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).
Manchester has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Ira has the most affordable homes ($273k median).
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 | Manchester | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 676 |
4,486Highest |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 57.8±9.7Highest 34% above VT |
54.5±6.3 26% above VT |
54.1±5.5Lowest 26% above VT |
| Rupert and Manchester 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% |
16.9%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Manchester 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% |
25.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
47.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±3Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Manchester 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±$36k 9% above VT |
$94,886±$23kHighest 17% above VT |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
| Manchester 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 |
$454,600±$47kHighest 44% above VT |
$272,900±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
| Manchester and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,057±$76Highest 14% below VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
| Manchester and Ira 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 |
$5,923Highest 18% above VT |
$4,146Lowest 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.5%±13.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Manchester 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% |
16.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
14.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
14 minLowest 39% below VT |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±9.2 VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Manchester 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 | — | #37 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | — |
| 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.