Compare towns
Rupert vs Topsham 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).
Topsham has the most kids (18% 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 | Topsham | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 676 |
999Highest |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 57.8±9.7Highest 34% above VT |
50.1±5.9Lowest 16% 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% |
18%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Topsham 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% |
23.2%±4.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.6% VT: 43.8% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5Highest VT: 7% |
| Ira and Rupert 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 |
$72,308±$60k 11% below VT |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
| Rupert and Topsham 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 |
$222,900±$56kLowest 30% below VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $908±$398Lowest 26% below VT |
$942±$52Highest 24% below VT |
| Ira and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,594Highest 9% below VT |
$4,006Lowest 21% below VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Topsham 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% |
18.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
14.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.3%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 minLowest 14% above VT |
35 minHighest 49% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±9.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Rupert and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Waits River Union High District #36 | — |
| 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.