Compare towns
Peru vs Waltham 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).
Waltham has the oldest population (median age 60.8).
Ripton has the shortest commute (24 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 | Waltham | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 434Lowest |
452 |
508Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +25.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.3±8.6Lowest 5% above VT |
60.8±7.3Highest 41% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
| Waltham 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 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Waltham and Ripton 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% |
45.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
$97,500±$14kLowest 20% 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±$105kHighest 26% above VT |
$329,700±$51kLowest 4% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
| 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 about the VT average |
$1,096±$113Lowest 11% below VT |
— |
| Peru and Waltham 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 |
$5,714Highest 13% above VT |
$4,915Lowest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29%±47.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±58.6 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Waltham 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% |
5.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.3% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 19% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 13.3%±16.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Waltham and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.