Compare towns
Berlin vs Peru vs Ripton vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has the most kids (16.6% under 18).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
Ripton has the most homeowners (90.9%).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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 | Berlin | Peru | Ripton | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880Highest |
434Lowest |
508 |
831 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% VT: +2.8% |
— | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
45.3±8.6Lowest 5% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
| Berlin and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
21.4%±5 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
1.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
$151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
| Peru and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
$400,000±$105kHighest 26% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
| Peru and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$1,271±$820Highest about the VT average |
— | $1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
| Peru and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418Lowest 12% below VT |
$5,000Highest about the VT average |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,421 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
29%±47.8 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 10% below VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±16.4 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Ripton 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 | #16 of 70 in VT | — | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.