Compare towns
Peru vs Ripton vs Northfield
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 most people working from home (17.2%).
Northfield has the most affordable homes ($274k 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.
| Measure | Peru | Ripton | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 434Lowest |
508 |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.3±8.6 5% above VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
| 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% |
14.6%±3.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Northfield and Ripton 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% |
20%±3.8Lowest 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Ripton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below 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 |
$274,400±$21kLowest 13% below 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±$820Highest about the VT average |
— | $1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
| Peru and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000Highest about the VT average |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,878Lowest 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29%±47.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield and Ripton 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% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 19% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±16.4 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Peru 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 | — | — | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.0 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.