Compare towns
Peru vs Richmond vs Ripton vs Rupert
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).
Richmond has the most kids (21.5% under 18).
Ripton has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Rupert has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
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 | Richmond | Ripton | Rupert |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 434Lowest |
4,159Highest |
508 |
676 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.1% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.3±8.6 5% above VT |
43.7±5.6Lowest about the VT average |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
57.8±9.7Highest 34% above VT |
| Rupert 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 VT: 17.9% |
21.5%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Richmond and Rupert 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% |
19.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
42.3%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Rupert 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% VT: 43.8% |
59.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.7 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
$108,235±$24k 33% above VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$88,229±$36kLowest 9% 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 |
$432,200±$39kHighest 37% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$362,500±$63kLowest 14% above VT |
| Richmond and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,271±$820 about the VT average |
— | — | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 about the VT average |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,594Lowest 9% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29%±47.8 VT: 48.4% |
28.5%±15.8 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
20%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Peru 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% |
4.2% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
78.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
93.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 19% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±16.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±9.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Richmond and Rupert 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 | — | #5 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 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.