Compare towns
Peru vs Ripton vs Colrain vs Westminster
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).
Ripton has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Colrain has the most affordable homes ($284k median).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
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 | Colrain | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 434Lowest |
508 |
1,627Highest |
497 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 45.3±8.6 16% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
43.3±11.5Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Colrain 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 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
28.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±11.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Colrain 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% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $151,875±$83kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$80,673±$10kLowest about the U.S. average |
$81,000±$22k about the U.S. average |
| 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. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$284,300±$14kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$313,600±$39k 6% below 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. |
— | $1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
$749±$315Lowest 47% below U.S. |
| Peru and Colrain 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. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$4,317Lowest 38% above U.S. |
$4,480 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29%±47.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ripton and Colrain 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±16.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.1%±15.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westminster 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 | — | — | — | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Mohawk Trail | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.