Compare towns
Peru vs Gorham 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).
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k median).
Ripton has the most homeowners (90.9%).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
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 | Gorham | Ripton | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 434Lowest |
2,682Highest |
508 |
497 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 45.3±8.6 16% above U.S. |
53.9±3.6Highest 39% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
43.3±11.5Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Gorham 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% |
12.5%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
28.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±11.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gorham and Ripton 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% |
20.7%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% |
6.7%±2.8 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. |
$61,275±$7kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$81,000±$22k 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. |
$161,600±$49kLowest 51% 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. |
$838±$83 41% below U.S. |
— | $749±$315Lowest 47% below U.S. |
| Peru and Gorham 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. |
$4,334Lowest 39% above 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% |
41%±20.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ripton and Gorham 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% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older 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 14% 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% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest 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 | — | #57 of 120 in NH | — | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| High school in town | — | Gorham High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0 |
— | — |
| 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.