Compare towns

Peru vs Colrain 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 highest household income ($152k).
Colrain has the most kids (15.3% under 18).
Ripton has the most people working from home (17.2%).

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.

MeasurePeruColrainRipton
People
Population
434Lowest
1,627Highest
508
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-3.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.3±8.6Lowest
16% above U.S.
49.6±8.7Highest
28% above U.S.
47.7±14.2
23% above U.S.
Colrain 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
U.S.: 22%
15.3%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
11.8%±6.3
U.S.: 22%
Colrain and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.4%±5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
30.4%±4.1
U.S.: 17.2%
30.5%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Ripton and Colrain 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%
37.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.8%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
20.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$151,875±$83kHighest
88% above U.S.
$80,673±$10kLowest
about the U.S. average
$112,917±$15k
40% above U.S.
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.
$284,300±$14kLowest
15% below U.S.
$394,400±$61k
19% above 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.
$1,102±$77Lowest
22% below U.S.
—
Peru and Colrain 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.
$4,317Lowest
38% above U.S.
$4,915
58% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
29%±47.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
46%±22.8
U.S.: 51.1%
52.9%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Ripton and Colrain 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%
7.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
90.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
6% above U.S.
34 minHighest
27% above U.S.
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
Work from home
13.3%±16.4
U.S.: 15.1%
8.4%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±8.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Ripton and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Mohawk Trail Addison Central Unified Union School District #55
High school in town — None in town None in town
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.