Compare towns

Peru vs Ripton vs Bow vs Windham

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 most renters (21% rent).
Ripton has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Bow has the most kids (25% under 18).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($354k median).

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.

MeasurePeruRiptonBowWindham
People
Population
434Lowest
508
8,335Highest
594
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
45.3±8.6
16% above U.S.
47.7±14.2Highest
23% above U.S.
41.5±2Lowest
7% above U.S.
44.2±7.4
14% above U.S.
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
U.S.: 22%
11.8%±6.3
U.S.: 22%
25%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.5%±7.9
U.S.: 22%
Bow and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.4%±5
U.S.: 17.2%
30.5%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.6%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
23.2%±8.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Ripton and Windham 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%
48%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
60.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.8%±3.2
U.S.: 6.4%
20.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
0.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$151,875±$83k
88% above U.S.
$112,917±$15k
40% above U.S.
$172,857±$16kHighest
114% above U.S.
$94,500±$12kLowest
17% above U.S.
Bow and Peru 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.
$394,400±$61k
19% above U.S.
$506,500±$34kHighest
52% above U.S.
$353,900±$20kLowest
6% above U.S.
Bow and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,271±$820Lowest
10% below U.S.
—
$1,539±$178Highest
9% above U.S.
—
Bow and Peru 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.
$4,915Lowest
58% above U.S.
$9,584Highest
207% above U.S.
$5,951
91% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
29%±47.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.9%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
39%±13.2
U.S.: 51.1%
41.2%±94
U.S.: 51.1%
Ripton and Windham 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%
8.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
9.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
82.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1973Lowest
7 yrs older than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
6% above U.S.
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
13.3%±16.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±8.7
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.5%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Bow and Windham 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 — — #26 of 120 in NH —
School district — Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Bow School District —
High school in town — None in town Bow High School —
Students per teacherat that high school — —
12.8
—
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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.