Compare towns
Peru vs Middlebury 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).
Middlebury has the youngest population (median age 23.7).
Ripton has the most kids (11.8% under 18).
Middlebury is a college town. 40.9% 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.
| Measure | Peru | Middlebury | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 434Lowest |
7,220Highest |
508 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +10.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.3±8.6 5% above VT |
23.7±1.3Lowest 45% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
8.5%±1.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Ripton and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±5 VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Peru 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% |
61.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
40.9%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
$86,250±$18kLowest 6% above 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±$105k 26% above VT |
$417,400±$31kHighest 32% above VT |
$394,400±$61kLowest 25% above VT |
| Middlebury and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,271±$820Highest about the VT average |
$1,201±$120Lowest about the VT average |
— |
| Peru and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 about the VT average |
$6,795Highest 35% above VT |
$4,915Lowest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29%±47.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.6%±15.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Middlebury 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 VT: 10.1% |
15.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
56.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 19% above VT |
15 minLowest 38% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 13.3%±16.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlebury 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 | — | #17 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.