Compare towns
Peru vs Ripton vs Strafford vs Williamson
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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Williamson has the most affordable homes ($193k median).
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 | Peru | Ripton | Strafford | Williamson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,710 |
508Lowest |
1,372 |
6,823Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±3.6Lowest 5% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
40.9±4.2 5% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Peru 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% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Strafford 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±5.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,771±$22k 26% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
$90,515±$14kLowest 12% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $203,200±$38k 39% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$192,700±$18kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Strafford and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,067±$173 24% below U.S. |
— | $1,125±$789Highest 20% below U.S. |
$659±$304Lowest 53% below U.S. |
| Strafford and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,357Lowest 40% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$5,172 66% 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% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.1%±12.5Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ripton and Williamson 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 | — | — | #221 of 484 in NY |
| School district | PERU CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Strafford School District | WILLIAMSON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | PERU HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | None in town | WILLIAMSON SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Highest |
— | — | 8.3Lowest |
| 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.