Compare towns

Peru vs Unity vs Ripton

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).
Unity has the most affordable homes ($276k median).
Ripton has the most people working from home (17.2%).

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.

MeasurePeruUnityRipton
People
Population
434Lowest
1,375Highest
508
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-9.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.3±8.6Lowest
16% above U.S.
58±4.5Highest
49% above U.S.
47.7±14.2
23% above U.S.
Unity 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%
12%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
11.8%±6.3
U.S.: 22%
Unity and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.4%±5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
34.9%±7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
30.5%±7.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Unity 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
U.S.: 35.7%
21.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.8%±3.2
U.S.: 6.4%
1%±0.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
20.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$151,875±$83kHighest
88% above U.S.
$87,500±$16kLowest
8% above U.S.
$112,917±$15k
40% above U.S.
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.
$276,100±$29kLowest
17% below U.S.
$394,400±$61k
19% above 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±$820Lowest
10% below U.S.
$1,625±$804Highest
15% above U.S.
—
Unity and Peru 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.
$5,394Highest
73% above U.S.
$4,915Lowest
58% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
29%±47.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
40%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
52.9%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Ripton and Unity 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%
6.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1973Lowest
7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
6% above U.S.
35 minHighest
32% above U.S.
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
Work from home
13.3%±16.4
U.S.: 15.1%
9.5%±4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±8.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Ripton and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Unity School District Addison Central Unified Union School District #55
High school in town — None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.