Quiet rural tranquility in Ira
Ira's rural country roads, rugged hills and local farmsteads greet residents and visitors as they cruise down Vermont State Route 133. Located along the northern edge of the Taconic Mountain Range, Ira is named after Ira Allen, brother of Ethan Allen, who led a local militia called the Green Mountain Boys during territorial disputes with New York in the 1760s. With no stoplights, no post office and no village center, Ira is the type of town that'd be easily overlooked if it weren't for the town hall plaque that boldly states "Ira, Vermont" along its facade. Spread across quiet backroads and wide-open fields, Ira is the quintessential “wide spot in the road” that attracts those who don’t necessarily want city life and opt instead for secluded living in the hills of Vermont. "It's one of those small towns where there's no real town, just houses tucked into the landscape," says Trent Stephens, a Realtor with Wohler Realty Group. "You move there because it's peaceful and affordable, especially compared to Rutland's suburbs."
With a population that barely cracks 500, Ira's community is sparse but close-knit. Most homes sit on generous acreage, with pastures, pines and rolling hills as neighbors. One might call Ira a bedroom community of Rutland, but many residents live, work and play in town. Local farms churn out dairy products and seasonal produce, while nearby forests are hotspots for logging and maple sugaring. But residents here are also well aware of the symbiotic relationship they have with the more populous communities that surround them. "Like the saying goes, 'The God of the mountains is not the God of the valleys.' In Vermont, we have ski towns and we have farm towns, and you can't have one without the other," Stephens says. "Ira's agricultural, slower pace of life is not sustainable without the tourism in other parts of the state."
Nearby parks, scenic trails and community gatherings
Ira embraces its small-town ethos and residents here take full advantage of both their natural surroundings and local offerings. The Ira Town Hall is a quiet hub for community activities, hosting occasional yoga sessions and strength-training classes aptly named "Bone Builders" designed to promote mobility and ward off osteoporosis among older residents. Other recreational activities are tucked within the surrounding Green Mountains. Beyond its lightning-bolt-shaped borders, the expansive Bird Mountain Wildlife Management Area, which comprises a large swath of the west side of town, features a rugged network of hiking trails and wildlife observation points beneath a canopy of maple and birch trees.
Up the road, those with a penchant for the arts can head to the West Rutland Art Park, a public sculpture garden on a private residence, or the Carving Studio and Sculpture Center, which features additional outdoor sculpture installations and weekly workshops.
On the south side of town, West Rutland Park is home to several sports fields, a playground and a dog park. Other green spaces await in nearby Middletown Springs, including Mineral Springs Park, which boasts shaded lawns with picnic areas, a playground, a disc golf course and creekside trails. Ten miles west, Lake St. Catherine State Park's small sandy beachfront, boat rental facilities, campgrounds and shaded picnic areas attract visitors from around the region. Across the street, Lake St. Catherine Country Club features a public 18-hole golf course and a restaurant serving lunch and dinner.
Classic Vermont game suppers
Small-town traditions prevail in this neck of the woods. Before hunting season in Vermont, rural communities across the state gather at local firehouses for a game supper. Middletown Springs, located just minutes from Ira, is particularly known for its observance of this longstanding tradition. "Everyone brings meat from the prior season and gathers for a large community supper. Old family recipes have you eating moose meatballs, deer steak and even beaver meatloaf," Stephens says.
Countryside homes across the centuries
Most homes in Ira are scattered along Vermont State Route 133 and State Route 4A. Many properties sit on acres of land, offering quiet country living with a low CAP Index Crime Score of 1 out of 10. Architectural styles here span the centuries, ranging from 18th-century Cape Cods and colonial-style homes to 21st-century ramblers and modest custom-built mountain cottages. Historic homes often boast modern additions such as two-car garages. Sales prices in Ira typically range from the low-$200,000s to $550,000.
Small local businesses and nearby amenities in Rutland
In town, residents can often find farm-fresh produce, flowers and eggs at roadside stands, while small home-based businesses like the Cross Road Sugar Company sell authentic Vermont maple syrup. However, besides the town hall and local Baptist church, Ira lacks a traditional commercial hub.
Despite its remote feel, Ira residents are only 9 miles west of Rutland, the third-largest city in Vermont. Rutland is home to chain grocers like Hannaford and Aldi, local supermarkets and co-ops, and big-box stores like Walmart. Rutland also features diverse restaurants that range from farm-to-table American fare at Roots the Restaurant to sushi and sashimi at Tokyo House.
School choice for Ira students
The Ira School District pays tuition to neighboring towns that support its students. Rutland County offers intra-district school choice for students, and Vermont's Public High School Choice Act allows parents to choose from any school across the state. Nearby schools include West Rutland School, which earns a C rating from Niche and serves kindergarteners through twelfth graders. Alternatively, students may attend C-rated Castleton Elementary School and C-plus-rated Fair Haven Union Middle and High School.
Ira's backroad commutes
Ira is a car-dependent community. Vermont State Route 133 is the main road through town. West Rutland is about 5 miles north and Rutland Regional Medical Center is about 10 miles east via U.S. Route 4. Rutland Southern Vermont Regional Airport, which offers daily commuter flights to Boston, is less than 15 miles away, and Burlington International Airport is about 70 miles north via U.S. Route 7.
