Compare towns

Peru vs Lancaster 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).
Lancaster has the most kids (20.9% 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.

MeasurePeruLancasterRipton
People
Population
434Lowest
3,216Highest
508
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-8.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.3±8.6Lowest
16% above U.S.
45.5±6.9
17% above U.S.
47.7±14.2Highest
23% above U.S.
Ripton and Lancaster 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%
20.9%±6.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
11.8%±6.3
U.S.: 22%
Lancaster 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%
28.4%±5.8
U.S.: 17.2%
30.5%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Ripton and Lancaster 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%
30.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.8%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
20.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$151,875±$83kHighest
88% above U.S.
$68,911±$23kLowest
15% below 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±$105kHighest
20% above U.S.
$215,700±$24kLowest
35% 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.
$1,019±$263Lowest
28% below U.S.
—
Peru and Lancaster 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.
$4,226Lowest
35% above U.S.
$4,915
58% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
29%±47.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
36.1%±17
U.S.: 51.1%
52.9%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Ripton and Lancaster 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%
16.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%
U.S.: 65.2%
75.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1942Lowest
38 yrs older than U.S.
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
6% above U.S.
23 minLowest
13% below U.S.
24 min
9% below U.S.
Work from home
13.3%±16.4
U.S.: 15.1%
11.5%±6.3Lowest
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
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #107 of 120 in NH —
School district — White Mountains Regional School District 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.