Compare towns
Peru vs Warren vs Ripton vs Dorset
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).
Warren has the most people working from home (36.2%).
Ripton has the most affordable homes ($394k median).
Dorset has the most kids (24% 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 | Warren | Ripton | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 434Lowest |
1,585 |
508 |
2,092Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +16% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.3±8.6Lowest 5% above VT |
53.1±4.2Highest 23% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
| Warren 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% |
9.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.1%±4.9 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Warren 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% |
60% VT: 43.8% |
48%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±4 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
$86,905±$16kLowest 7% above VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$111,250±$40k 37% 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 |
$569,300±$123kHighest 80% above VT |
$394,400±$61kLowest 25% above VT |
$569,200±$57k 80% above VT |
| Warren and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,271±$820Lowest about the VT average |
$1,750±$394Highest 42% above VT |
— | $1,420±$296 15% above VT |
| Warren and Dorset 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 |
$7,284 45% above VT |
$4,915Lowest about the VT average |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29%±47.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
32.3%±26.6 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset 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% |
15.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
11.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 19% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
22 min 8% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±16.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
36.2%±5Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Warren and Dorset 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 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.