Compare towns
Rupert vs Unity vs Waltham 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 expensive homes ($363k median).
Unity has the most homeowners (94.5%).
Waltham has the most people working from home (20.6%).
Ira has the youngest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Unity | Waltham | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 676 |
1,375Highest |
452 |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 57.8±9.7 49% above U.S. |
58±4.5 49% above U.S. |
60.8±7.3Highest 56% above U.S. |
54.1±5.5Lowest 39% above U.S. |
| Waltham and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±7.4 U.S.: 22% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Rupert and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 42.3%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7 U.S.: 17.2% |
45.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.9%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Waltham and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ira and Waltham 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 U.S. |
$87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$97,500±$14kHighest 21% above U.S. |
$71,827±$5kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Waltham 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±$63kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$276,100±$29k 17% below U.S. |
$329,700±$51k about the U.S. average |
$272,900±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rupert and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,096±$113 22% below U.S. |
$942±$52Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Unity and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,594 47% above U.S. |
$5,394 73% above U.S. |
$5,714Highest 83% above U.S. |
$4,146Lowest 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±58.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Unity and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±9.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waltham and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Unity School District | — | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 4 photos → | None yet | 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.