Compare towns
Lunenburg vs Peru vs Ripton vs Dalton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lunenburg has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
Ripton has the most people working from home (17.2%).
Dalton has the most kids (20.6% 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 | Lunenburg | Peru | Ripton | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,267Highest |
434Lowest |
508 |
916 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.2±4.2Highest 32% above U.S. |
45.3±8.6 16% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
44.5±12.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±3 U.S.: 22% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±11.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dalton and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.1%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,125±$9kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$151,875±$83kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$81,429±$36k about the U.S. 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 | $164,000±$11kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$400,000±$105kHighest 20% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$191,400±$68k 42% below U.S. |
| Peru and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,025±$172 27% below U.S. |
$1,271±$820Highest 10% below U.S. |
— | $900±$825Lowest 36% below U.S. |
| Peru and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,702Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$5,000Highest 60% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$3,561 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.5%±57.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
29%±47.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±83.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dalton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 4.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±16.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.9%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ripton and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | — | 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 |
U.S. 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.