Compare towns
Peru vs Ripton vs Sheldon vs Westminster
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 oldest population (median age 47.7).
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Westminster has the most people working from home (23.1%).
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 | Sheldon | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 434Lowest |
508 |
2,267Highest |
497 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 45.3±8.6 5% above VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
43.3±11.5 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% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Sheldon 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4 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% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
$81,000±$22k about the VT 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 26% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
$313,600±$39k about the VT average |
| 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±$820 about the VT average |
— | $1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
| Sheldon and Peru 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 |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,480 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29%±47.8 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Peru 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
2.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
80.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 19% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 7% above VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±16.4 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — |
| 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.