Compare towns
Castleton vs Peru vs Ripton vs Winhall
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
Ripton has the most homeowners (90.9%).
Winhall has the most expensive homes ($472k 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 | Castleton | Peru | Ripton | Winhall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
434Lowest |
508 |
752 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +25.7% VT: +2.8% |
+53.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
45.3±8.6 5% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
48.9±6.1Highest 13% above VT |
| Winhall and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
17%±6.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Winhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
21.4%±5 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±5.3Lowest 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+ | 37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.3% VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
67.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
1.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±4 VT: 7% |
| Ripton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$95,500±$23k 18% 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 | $224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$400,000±$105k 26% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$471,800±$55kHighest 49% above VT |
| Winhall and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,271±$820Highest about the VT average |
— | $1,094±$732Lowest 11% below VT |
| Peru and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$6,567Highest 30% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
29%±47.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
37.5%±38.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
28 minHighest 19% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
27 min 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±16.4 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
18.4%±9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Winhall 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| 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.