Compare towns
Rupert vs Townsend vs Putney vs Ira
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rupert has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 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 | Townsend | Putney | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 676 |
9,100Highest |
2,622 |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 57.8±9.7Highest 49% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
54.1±5.5 39% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 42.3%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.9%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $88,229±$36k 9% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$71,827±$5kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Townsend 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 9% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$272,900±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$942±$52 33% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,594 47% above U.S. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
$4,146Lowest 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±9.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rupert and Putney 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 | — | #136 of 282 in MA | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | North Middlesex | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — |
| High school in town | — | North Middlesex Regional | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | None yet |
U.S. 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.