Compare towns

Rupert vs Shelburne vs Windham 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).
Shelburne has the most expensive homes ($588k median).
Windham has the youngest population (median age 44.2).
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.

MeasureRupertShelburneWindhamIra
People
Population
676
7,969Highest
594
381Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.2%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+8%Highest
VT: +2.8%
— —
Median age
57.8±9.7Highest
34% above VT
50.9±3.2
18% above VT
44.2±7.4Lowest
about the VT average
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%
20.2%±3.9Highest
VT: 17.9%
17.5%±7.9
VT: 17.9%
10.5%±4.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Shelburne and Windham 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%
29.2%±4.2
VT: 21.4%
23.2%±8.1Lowest
VT: 21.4%
28.9%±3.3
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
30.6%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
70.2%Highest
VT: 43.8%
48.1%
VT: 43.8%
37.1%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.1%±2.5
VT: 7%
4.7%±2.9Highest
VT: 7%
0.8%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
3.4%±3.5
VT: 7%
Shelburne 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
$115,963±$16kHighest
43% above VT
$94,500±$12k
16% above VT
$71,827±$5kLowest
12% below VT
Shelburne and Windham 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
$588,100±$44kHighest
86% above VT
$353,900±$20k
12% above VT
$272,900±$18kLowest
14% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,442±$589Highest
17% above VT
—
$942±$52Lowest
24% below VT
Shelburne 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
$8,173Highest
62% above VT
$5,951
18% above VT
$4,146Lowest
18% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
20%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
43.7%±10.6Highest
VT: 48.4%
41.2%±94
VT: 48.4%
36.4%±100
VT: 48.4%
Shelburne and Windham 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%
8.4%
VT: 10.1%
9.9%
VT: 10.1%
14.4%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
69.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
82.9%
VT: 73.2%
90.7%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1955Lowest
21 yrs older than VT
1986Highest
10 yrs newer than VT
1982
6 yrs newer than VT
1975
1 yr older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
14% above VT
20 minLowest
14% below VT
27 min
14% above VT
28 minHighest
20% above VT
Work from home
18.6%±9.2
VT: 16.9%
31.4%±7.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
20.5%±5.6
VT: 16.9%
2.3%±2.2Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Shelburne and Windham 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 — #8 of 70 in VT — —
School district — Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 — —
High school in town — None in town — —
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.