Compare towns
Peru vs Ripton vs Sheffield 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).
Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($172k median).
Windham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
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 | Sheffield | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 434Lowest |
508 |
573 |
594Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 45.3±8.6 5% above VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
42±8Lowest about the VT average |
44.2±7.4 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% |
17.1%±6.6 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Windham and Sheffield 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% |
19.2%±4Lowest 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% |
27.1%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% |
5.9%±4.7 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 |
$58,333±$26kLowest 28% below VT |
$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 |
$171,900±$50kLowest 46% 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±$820Highest about the VT average |
— | $967±$79Lowest 22% below VT |
— |
| Peru and Sheffield 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 |
$2,123Lowest 58% below VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29%±47.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
61.5%±41.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
| Sheffield 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% |
6.6% VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
83.7% VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1987Highest 11 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 |
30 minHighest 28% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±16.4 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.1%±2.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Windham and Ripton 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 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | — |
| 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.