Compare towns
Jay vs Old Bennington 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
Jay has the most affordable homes ($234k median).
Old Bennington has the most people working from home (46.7%).
Peru has the most renters (21% rent).
Ripton has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Jay | Old Bennington | Peru | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471 |
182Lowest |
434 |
508Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | — | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
45±21.3Lowest 4% above VT |
45.3±8.6 5% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
| Jay and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±12Highest VT: 17.9% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Old Bennington and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.8%±8Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.4%±5 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Old Bennington and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
84.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.3% VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
0%±7.8Lowest VT: 7% |
1.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$168,750±$53kHighest 108% above VT |
$151,875±$83k 87% above VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
| Old Bennington and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$445,500±$105kHighest 41% above VT |
$400,000±$105k 26% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
| Old Bennington and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,063±$1kLowest 14% below VT |
$1,271±$820Highest about the VT average |
— |
| Peru and Old Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$8,690Highest 72% above VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$4,915 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
29%±47.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
1.8% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
93.8% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
46.7%±3.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±16.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — | — | 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.