Compare towns
Dover vs Peru vs Ripton vs Westminster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has the oldest population (median age 53.5).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
Ripton has the most homeowners (90.9%).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
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 | Dover | Peru | Ripton | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466Highest |
434Lowest |
508 |
497 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | +25.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
45.3±8.6 5% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
43.3±11.5Lowest about the VT average |
| Dover and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.2%±5.7 VT: 17.9% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
21.4%±5 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.9% VT: 43.8% |
54.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
45.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
1.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$81,000±$22k about the VT average |
| Peru and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$400,000±$105kHighest 26% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$313,600±$39kLowest about the VT average |
| Peru and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,271±$820Highest about the VT average |
— | $749±$315 39% below VT |
| Peru and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510 10% below VT |
$5,000Highest about the VT average |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,480Lowest 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
29%±47.8 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.3% VT: 10.1% |
1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±16.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Dover and Westminster 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 | — | — | — | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | — | 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.