Compare towns
Peru vs Dummerston vs Chester 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).
Dummerston has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
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 | Dummerston | Chester | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 434Lowest |
2,090 |
2,992Highest |
508 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.3±8.6Lowest 5% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
| Chester 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% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Chester 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% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Chester 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% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below 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 |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below 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±$820 about the VT average |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
— |
| Dummerston and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000Highest about the VT average |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29%±47.8 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Dummerston 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% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 19% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 13.3%±16.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston 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 | — | — | #49 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
— |
| 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.