Compare towns
Peru vs Epping vs Dorset 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).
Epping has the youngest population (median age 45.1).
Dorset has the most expensive homes ($569k median).
Ripton has the oldest population (median age 47.7).
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 | Epping | Dorset | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 434Lowest |
7,430Highest |
2,092 |
508 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±8.6 16% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Lowest 16% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Dorset 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% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Epping 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% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Epping 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% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $151,875±$83kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40k 38% above U.S. |
$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±$105k 20% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61kLowest 19% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,271±$820Lowest 10% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
— |
| Epping and Dorset 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. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
$7,489Highest 140% above U.S. |
$4,915Lowest 58% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29%±47.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Epping 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Epping 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 | — | #77 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | — | Epping School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | — | Epping High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.



