Compare towns
Peru vs White River Junction 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).
White River Junction has the most kids (17.1% under 18).
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 | White River Junction | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 434Lowest |
3,364Highest |
508 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +10.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.3±8.6 5% above VT |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
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% |
17.1%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
| White River Junction and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±5 VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Peru 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% |
38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
$77,168±$4kLowest 5% below 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 |
$278,800±$78kLowest 12% below 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 |
$1,222±$216Lowest about the VT average |
— |
| Peru and White River Junction 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 |
$5,651Highest 12% above VT |
$4,915Lowest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29%±47.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and White River Junction 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% |
12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 19% above VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 13.3%±16.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and White River Junction 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.