Compare towns

Peru vs Washington 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).
Washington has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Windham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
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.

MeasurePeruWashingtonWindhamRipton
People
Population
434Lowest
1,056Highest
594
508
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-0.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
—
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
45.3±8.6
5% above VT
52.9±5.1Highest
23% above VT
44.2±7.4Lowest
about the VT average
47.7±14.2
11% above VT
Washington 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%
16.5%±4.2
VT: 17.9%
17.5%±7.9Highest
VT: 17.9%
11.8%±6.3
VT: 17.9%
Windham and Washington 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%
24.3%±4.6
VT: 21.4%
23.2%±8.1
VT: 21.4%
30.5%±7.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
Ripton and Washington 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
VT: 43.8%
31%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
48.1%
VT: 43.8%
48%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.8%±3.2
VT: 7%
2.7%±2
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
$66,103±$8kLowest
19% below 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±$105kHighest
26% above VT
$217,700±$37kLowest
31% below VT
$353,900±$20k
12% 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
$996±$285Lowest
19% below VT
— —
Peru and Washington 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
$3,485Lowest
31% below VT
$5,951Highest
18% above VT
$4,915
about the VT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
29%±47.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
34.5%±63.6
VT: 48.4%
41.2%±94
VT: 48.4%
52.9%±100Highest
VT: 48.4%
Ripton and Windham 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%
3.2%
VT: 10.1%
9.9%Highest
VT: 10.1%
8.6%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
94.4%Highest
VT: 73.2%
82.9%
VT: 73.2%
90.9%
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 min
19% above VT
31 minHighest
31% above VT
27 min
14% above VT
24 minLowest
about the VT average
Work from home
13.3%±16.4Lowest
VT: 16.9%
14.9%±5.7
VT: 16.9%
20.5%±5.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7
VT: 16.9%
Windham and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 — 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.