Compare towns

Peru vs Chapman vs Ripton vs Westminster

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 highest household income ($152k).
Chapman has the most affordable homes ($186k median).
Ripton has the oldest population (median age 47.7).
Westminster has the most people working from home (23.1%).

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.

MeasurePeruChapmanRiptonWestminster
People
Population
434
388Lowest
508Highest
497
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
+25.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
45.3±8.6
16% above U.S.
45.7±11.4
17% above U.S.
47.7±14.2Highest
23% above U.S.
43.3±11.5Lowest
11% above U.S.
Ripton and Chapman 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%
27.6%±5.9
U.S.: 22%
11.8%±6.3
U.S.: 22%
28.4%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
Westminster and Chapman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.4%±5
U.S.: 17.2%
27.6%±3.8
U.S.: 17.2%
30.5%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±11.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Ripton and Chapman 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
U.S.: 35.7%
22.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48%
U.S.: 35.7%
45.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.8%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.2%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
20.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.2%±3.5
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$151,875±$83kHighest
88% above U.S.
$93,125±$17k
15% above U.S.
$112,917±$15k
40% above U.S.
$81,000±$22kLowest
about the U.S. average
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
20% above U.S.
$185,700±$22kLowest
44% below U.S.
$394,400±$61k
19% above U.S.
$313,600±$39k
6% below U.S.
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
10% below U.S.
— —
$749±$315Lowest
47% below U.S.
Peru and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,000Highest
60% above U.S.
$1,850Lowest
41% below U.S.
$4,915
58% above U.S.
$4,480
44% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
29%±47.8
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.9%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
6.1%±43.8
U.S.: 51.1%
Ripton and Peru 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%
6.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
80.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
6% above U.S.
23 minLowest
12% below U.S.
24 min
9% below U.S.
30 minHighest
13% above U.S.
Work from home
13.3%±16.4
U.S.: 15.1%
4.8%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±8.7
U.S.: 15.1%
23.1%±15.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Westminster 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 — — — #53 of 70 in VT
School district — — Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 —
High school in town — — None in town —
On TownTapestry
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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.