Compare towns

Rupert vs Strafford 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 people working from home (18.6%).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
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.

MeasureRupertStraffordIra
People
Population
676
1,372Highest
381Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.2%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-0.4%Highest
VT: +2.8%
—
Median age
57.8±9.7Highest
34% above VT
51.4±4.7Lowest
19% 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%
23%±5.2Highest
VT: 17.9%
10.5%±4.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Age 65+
42.3%±8.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
22.1%±3.4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
28.9%±3.3
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
30.6%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
53.3%Highest
VT: 43.8%
37.1%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.1%±2.5Lowest
VT: 7%
5.1%±2.6Highest
VT: 7%
3.4%±3.5
VT: 7%
Strafford 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
$110,833±$19kHighest
36% above VT
$71,827±$5kLowest
12% below VT
Strafford 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
$431,300±$40kHighest
36% above VT
$272,900±$18kLowest
14% below VT
Strafford and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,125±$789Highest
9% below VT
$942±$52Lowest
24% below VT
Strafford 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
$7,149Highest
42% above VT
$4,146Lowest
18% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
20%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
44.6%±48Highest
VT: 48.4%
36.4%±100
VT: 48.4%
Strafford and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6%
VT: 10.1%
5.2%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
14.4%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
88.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
90.7%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1955Lowest
21 yrs older than VT
1980Highest
4 yrs newer than VT
1975
1 yr older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
14% above VT
23 minLowest
about the VT average
28 minHighest
20% above VT
Work from home
18.6%±9.2Highest
VT: 16.9%
16.1%±4.3
VT: 16.9%
2.3%±2.2Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Rupert and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Strafford School District —
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.