Compare towns
Peru vs Ripton vs Jay vs Winhall
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).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Winhall has the most kids (17% 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 | Jay | Winhall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 434Lowest |
508 |
471 |
752Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +25.7% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+53.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.3±8.6Lowest 5% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
48.9±6.1 13% above VT |
| Jay and Winhall 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% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
17%±6.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Winhall and Jay 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% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±5.3 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% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
67.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
3.1%±4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$95,500±$23k 18% 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 |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$471,800±$55kHighest 49% above VT |
| Winhall 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 |
— | — | $1,094±$732Lowest 11% below VT |
| Peru and Winhall 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 |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$6,567Highest 30% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29%±47.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
37.5%±38.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Jay 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% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 19% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±16.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.4%±9 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Winhall 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 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.