Compare towns
Peru vs Ripton vs Brookline vs Windham
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).
Ripton has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Brookline has the most affordable homes ($291k median).
Windham has the youngest population (median age 44.2).
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.
| Measure | Peru | Ripton | Brookline | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 434Lowest |
508 |
531 |
594Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 45.3±8.6 5% above VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
| 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% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Windham 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
| 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
41.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$80,833±$16kLowest about the VT average |
$94,500±$12k 16% 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±$105kHighest 26% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$290,700±$37kLowest 8% below VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
| 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±$820Lowest about the VT average |
— | $1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
— |
| Brookline and Peru 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 |
$4,915Lowest about the VT average |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29%±47.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Brookline 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
6.2% VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 19% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±16.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Brookline and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | — |
| High school 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.