Compare towns
Peru vs Barre vs Windham vs Ripton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
Barre has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Windham has the most kids (17.5% under 18).
Ripton has the most homeowners (90.9%).
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 | Barre | Windham | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 434Lowest |
8,412Highest |
594 |
508 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.3±8.6 5% above VT |
42.2±6.6Lowest about the VT average |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
| Ripton and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 8.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Windham and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±5 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
36.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
$65,625±$7kLowest 19% below VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% 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 | $400,000±$105kHighest 26% above VT |
$210,400±$15kLowest 34% below VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% 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 | $1,271±$820Highest about the VT average |
$1,093±$58Lowest 11% below VT |
— | — |
| Peru and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 about the VT average |
$5,192 3% above VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$4,915Lowest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29%±47.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
17.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 19% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 13.3%±16.4 VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Windham and Ripton 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 | — | #19 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | — | Spaulding Union High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— | — |
| 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.