Compare towns

Peru vs Ripton vs Colonie

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Peru has the most affordable homes ($203k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Colonie has the shortest commute (17 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.

MeasurePeruRiptonColonie
People
Population
6,710
508Lowest
7,702Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.7±3.6Lowest
5% above U.S.
47.7±14.2Highest
23% above U.S.
43.4±1.8
12% above U.S.
Ripton and Colonie are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.8%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20%±4.7
U.S.: 22%
Peru and Colonie are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
15.4%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
30.5%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.9%±3.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Ripton and Colonie are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
33.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
35.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.3%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
20.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
7.9%±3.3
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$101,771±$22kLowest
26% above U.S.
$112,917±$15kHighest
40% above U.S.
$103,983±$6k
29% above U.S.
Ripton and Colonie are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$203,200±$38kLowest
39% below U.S.
$394,400±$61kHighest
19% above U.S.
$285,400±$10k
14% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,067±$173Lowest
24% below U.S.
—
$1,570±$157Highest
11% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,357
40% above U.S.
$4,915Highest
58% above U.S.
$3,712Lowest
19% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.8%±25.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.9%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
35.3%±16.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Peru and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
90.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 min
22% below U.S.
24 minHighest
9% below U.S.
17 minLowest
36% below U.S.
Work from home
10.2%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±8.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.7%±5.5
U.S.: 15.1%
Ripton and Colonie are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #347 of 484 in NY — —
School district PERU CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 —
High school in town PERU HIGH SCHOOL None in town —
Students per teacherat that high school
11.7
— —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.