Compare towns

Peru vs Durham vs Windham 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).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Windham has the most kids (17.5% under 18).
Ripton has the most homeowners (90.9%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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.

MeasurePeruDurhamWindhamRipton
People
Population
434Lowest
15,080Highest
594
508
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+5.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.3±8.6
16% above U.S.
20.8±0.3Lowest
47% below U.S.
44.2±7.4
14% 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%
10.3%±2.1
U.S.: 22%
17.5%±7.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
11.8%±6.3
U.S.: 22%
Windham and Ripton 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%
11.5%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
23.2%±8.1
U.S.: 17.2%
30.5%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Ripton and Windham 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%
75.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
48%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.8%±3.2
U.S.: 6.4%
55.1%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
0.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
20.1%±6.3
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$151,875±$83kHighest
88% above U.S.
$124,056±$21k
54% above U.S.
$94,500±$12kLowest
17% above U.S.
$112,917±$15k
40% above U.S.
Peru and Durham 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.
$504,300±$41kHighest
52% above U.S.
$353,900±$20kLowest
6% above U.S.
$394,400±$61k
19% above U.S.
Durham and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,271±$820Lowest
10% below U.S.
$1,429±$143Highest
about the U.S. average
— —
Durham 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.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$5,951
91% above U.S.
$4,915Lowest
58% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
29%±47.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
66.4%±16Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.2%±94
U.S.: 51.1%
52.9%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
Durham 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%
15.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
9.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%
U.S.: 65.2%
64.4%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.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1973Lowest
7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
6% above U.S.
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
24 min
9% below U.S.
Work from home
13.3%±16.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.4%±3.5
U.S.: 15.1%
20.5%±5.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±8.7
U.S.: 15.1%
Windham and Durham 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 — #9 of 120 in NH — —
School district — Oyster River Coop School District — Addison Central Unified Union School District #55
High school in town — Oyster River High School — None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.3
— —
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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.