Compare towns

Hancock vs Peru vs Ripton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hancock has the most affordable homes ($188k median).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
Ripton has the most people working from home (17.2%).

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.

MeasureHancockPeruRipton
People
Population
435
434Lowest
508Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
+25.7%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
33.8±11.6Lowest
22% below VT
45.3±8.6
5% above VT
47.7±14.2Highest
11% above VT
Ripton and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.2%±5.8Highest
VT: 17.9%
8.5%±5.9Lowest
VT: 17.9%
11.8%±6.3
VT: 17.9%
Hancock and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.8%±3.6Lowest
VT: 21.4%
21.4%±5
VT: 21.4%
30.5%±7.1Highest
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+
34.3%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
54.3%Highest
VT: 43.8%
48%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±3.6
VT: 7%
1.8%±3.2Lowest
VT: 7%
20.1%±6.3Highest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$76,250±$34kLowest
6% below VT
$151,875±$83kHighest
87% above VT
$112,917±$15k
39% 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
$187,900±$11kLowest
41% below VT
$400,000±$105kHighest
26% above VT
$394,400±$61k
25% above VT
Peru and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$939±$19Lowest
24% below VT
$1,271±$820Highest
about the VT average
—
Peru and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,511Lowest
30% below VT
$5,000Highest
about the VT average
$4,915
about the VT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
3.5%±16.9Lowest
VT: 48.4%
29%±47.8
VT: 48.4%
52.9%±100Highest
VT: 48.4%
Ripton and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.6%
VT: 10.1%
1.8%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
8.6%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
59.5%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
79%
VT: 73.2%
90.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972Lowest
4 yrs older than VT
1981Highest
5 yrs newer than VT
1973
3 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
17% above VT
28 minHighest
19% above VT
24 minLowest
about the VT average
Work from home
11.7%±5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
13.3%±16.4
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
Ripton and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — — Addison Central Unified Union School District #55
High school in town — — None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.