Compare towns
Cabot vs Peru vs Ripton vs Walden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cabot has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
Ripton has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Walden has the most affordable homes ($239k 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 | Cabot | Peru | Ripton | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,579Highest |
434Lowest |
508 |
1,037 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.3±6.6Lowest 6% below VT |
45.3±8.6 5% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
48.8±3.2Highest 13% above VT |
| Walden and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.2%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 21%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
21.4%±5 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.7% VT: 43.8% |
54.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,031±$16kLowest 5% below VT |
$151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$88,000±$15k 8% above 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 | $268,500±$77k 15% below VT |
$400,000±$105kHighest 26% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$238,900±$23kLowest 25% 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 | $1,243±$354 about the VT average |
$1,271±$820Highest about the VT average |
— | $900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
| Peru and Cabot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,639 8% below VT |
$5,000Highest about the VT average |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$3,944Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±26.7 VT: 48.4% |
29%±47.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Walden and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9% VT: 10.1% |
1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 27% above VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
26 min 10% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.4%±4.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±16.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school 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.