Compare towns
Pawlet vs Peru vs Ripton vs Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pawlet has the most affordable homes ($266k median).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
Ripton has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Windham has the youngest population (median age 44.2).
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.
| Measure | Pawlet | Peru | Ripton | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,480Highest |
434Lowest |
508 |
594 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 47.9±7.5Highest 11% above VT |
45.3±8.6 5% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
| Pawlet and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Pawlet and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
21.4%±5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.9 VT: 7% |
1.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,273±$14kLowest 23% below VT |
$151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% 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 | $266,200±$44kLowest 16% below VT |
$400,000±$105kHighest 26% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% 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 | $1,153±$215Lowest 7% below VT |
$1,271±$820Highest about the VT average |
— | — |
| Peru and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,924Lowest 22% below VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±21.3 VT: 48.4% |
29%±47.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10%Highest VT: 10.1% |
1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 40% above VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.3 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±16.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Windham and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Mettawee School District #84 | — | 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.