Compare towns
Peru vs Calais vs Ripton vs Andover
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).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Ripton has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
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 | Calais | Ripton | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 434Lowest |
1,713Highest |
508 |
616 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 45.3±8.6 5% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
49.2±5.1Highest 14% above VT |
| Andover and Ripton 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% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
11.5%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.7%±4.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.3% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
43.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
$100,625±$27kLowest 24% above VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$102,500±$38k 26% 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 |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$382,900±$68kLowest 21% 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±$820Lowest about the VT average |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
— | $1,389±$364 13% above VT |
| Calais and Andover 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 |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$4,915Lowest about the VT average |
$5,190 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29%±47.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
69.4%±47.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Andover 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 VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
4.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
82.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 19% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±16.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.