Compare towns
Peru vs Springfield vs Ripton vs Westminster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
Springfield has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Ripton has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% 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 | Springfield | Ripton | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 434Lowest |
1,122Highest |
508 |
497 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 45.3±8.6 16% above U.S. |
51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
43.3±11.5Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Springfield and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 8.5%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±8 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
28.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±11.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $151,875±$83kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$100,893±$19k 25% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$81,000±$22kLowest about the U.S. 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 20% above U.S. |
$384,100±$50k 15% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$313,600±$39kLowest 6% below U.S. |
| 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 10% below U.S. |
$1,096±$217 22% below U.S. |
— | $749±$315Lowest 47% below U.S. |
| Peru and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 60% above U.S. |
$5,946Highest 91% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$4,480Lowest 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29%±47.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.1%±15.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.