Compare towns
Dummerston vs Peru vs Ripton vs Waitsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
Ripton has the oldest population (median age 47.7).
Waitsfield has the most kids (23.8% 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 | Dummerston | Peru | Ripton | Waitsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090Highest |
434Lowest |
508 |
1,918 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+7.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
45.3±8.6 5% above VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
44.3±5.3Lowest about the VT average |
| Ripton and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
23.8%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Waitsfield and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
21.4%±5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.7% VT: 43.8% |
54.3% VT: 43.8% |
48%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
63.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
1.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.8%±3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$84,375±$34kLowest 4% 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 | $335,300±$22kLowest 6% above VT |
$400,000±$105k 26% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$422,400±$92kHighest 33% above VT |
| Waitsfield and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$1,271±$820 about the VT average |
— | $1,200±$821Lowest about the VT average |
| Dummerston and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$6,208Highest 23% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
29%±47.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
47.4%±30.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% VT: 10.1% |
1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 11% below VT |
28 minHighest 19% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±16.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
19%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.