Compare towns
Peru vs Rupert vs Manchester vs Ripton
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).
Rupert has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Manchester has the shortest commute (14 min average).
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 | Rupert | Manchester | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 434Lowest |
676 |
4,486Highest |
508 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.1% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.3±8.6Lowest 5% above VT |
57.8±9.7Highest 34% above VT |
54.5±6.3 26% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
| Rupert and Manchester 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% |
13.9%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
16.9%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Manchester and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
42.3%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Rupert and Ripton 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% |
30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
47.4% VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
5.8%±3 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
$88,229±$36kLowest 9% above VT |
$94,886±$23k 17% above VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% 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 |
$362,500±$63kLowest 14% above VT |
$454,600±$47kHighest 44% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
| Manchester 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 |
— | $1,057±$76Lowest 14% below VT |
— |
| Peru and Manchester 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 |
$4,594Lowest 9% below VT |
$5,923Highest 18% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29%±47.8 VT: 48.4% |
20%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.5%±13.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Manchester 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% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
16.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
93.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 19% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
14 minLowest 39% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 13.3%±16.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±9.2 VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Manchester and Rupert 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 | — | — | #37 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | — | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.