Compare towns
Peru vs Waitsfield vs Windham 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).
Waitsfield has the most kids (23.8% under 18).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($354k median).
Ripton has the most homeowners (90.9%).
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 | Waitsfield | Windham | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 434Lowest |
1,918Highest |
594 |
508 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +7.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.3±8.6 5% above VT |
44.3±5.3 about the VT average |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
| 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% |
23.8%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Waitsfield and Windham 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% |
28.2%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.3% VT: 43.8% |
63.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
48%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
3.8%±3 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
$84,375±$34kLowest 4% above VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% 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 |
$422,400±$92kHighest 33% above VT |
$353,900±$20kLowest 12% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
| Waitsfield 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 |
$1,200±$821Lowest about the VT average |
— | — |
| Peru and Waitsfield 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 |
$6,208Highest 23% above VT |
$5,951 18% above VT |
$4,915Lowest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29%±47.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.4%±30.6 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Waitsfield 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% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 19% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 13.3%±16.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Windham and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | — | 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.