Compare towns
Mendon vs Peru vs Ripton vs Rupert
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
Rupert has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
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 | Mendon | Peru | Ripton | Rupert |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,113Highest |
434Lowest |
508 |
676 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% VT: +2.8% |
— | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
45.3±8.6Lowest 5% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
57.8±9.7Highest 34% above VT |
| Rupert and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Mendon and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
21.4%±5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
42.3%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Rupert and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.4% VT: 43.8% |
54.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$88,229±$36kLowest 9% 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 | $357,000±$44kLowest 13% above VT |
$400,000±$105kHighest 26% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$362,500±$63k 14% 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 | $1,230±$651Lowest about the VT average |
$1,271±$820Highest about the VT average |
— | — |
| Peru and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,342Highest 6% above VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,594Lowest 9% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
29%±47.8 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
20%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% VT: 10.1% |
1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.2% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
93.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 28% below VT |
28 minHighest 19% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±16.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±9.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Rupert 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 | 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.