Compare towns

Peru vs Bedford vs Ripton

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 renters (21% rent).
Bedford has the most kids (22.7% 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.

MeasurePeruBedfordRipton
People
Population
434Lowest
23,746Highest
508
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+10%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.3±8.6
16% above U.S.
45±2.2Lowest
16% above U.S.
47.7±14.2Highest
23% above U.S.
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
U.S.: 22%
22.7%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
11.8%±6.3
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
21.4%±5
U.S.: 17.2%
20.5%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
30.5%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Ripton and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
54.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
63%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
48%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.8%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.7%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
20.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$151,875±$83k
88% above U.S.
$167,418±$12kHighest
107% above U.S.
$112,917±$15kLowest
40% above U.S.
Bedford and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$400,000±$105k
20% above U.S.
$612,100±$26kHighest
84% above U.S.
$394,400±$61kLowest
19% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,271±$820Lowest
10% below U.S.
$2,099±$274Highest
49% above U.S.
—
Bedford and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,000
60% above U.S.
$9,803Highest
214% above U.S.
$4,915Lowest
58% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
29%±47.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
59.4%±15.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.9%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
Bedford and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
1.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
90.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1990Highest
10 yrs newer than U.S.
1973Lowest
7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
6% above U.S.
25 min
4% below U.S.
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
Work from home
13.3%±16.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
27%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±8.7
U.S.: 15.1%
Bedford 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 — #7 of 120 in NH —
School district — Bedford School District Addison Central Unified Union School District #55
High school in town — Bedford High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
13.5
—
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.