Compare towns

Peru vs Windham vs Ripton vs Westminster

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).
Ripton has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% 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.

MeasurePeruWindhamRiptonWestminster
People
Population
434Lowest
594Highest
508
497
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
+25.7%
VT: +2.8%
—
Median age
45.3±8.6
5% above VT
44.2±7.4
about the VT average
47.7±14.2Highest
11% above VT
43.3±11.5Lowest
about the VT average
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%
17.5%±7.9
VT: 17.9%
11.8%±6.3
VT: 17.9%
28.4%±7.1Highest
VT: 17.9%
Westminster and Windham 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%
23.2%±8.1
VT: 21.4%
30.5%±7.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
19.7%±11.4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Ripton and Windham 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%
48.1%
VT: 43.8%
48%
VT: 43.8%
45.4%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.8%±3.2
VT: 7%
0.8%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
20.1%±6.3Highest
VT: 7%
2.2%±3.5
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$151,875±$83kHighest
87% above VT
$94,500±$12k
16% above VT
$112,917±$15k
39% above VT
$81,000±$22kLowest
about the VT average
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
$353,900±$20k
12% above VT
$394,400±$61k
25% above VT
$313,600±$39kLowest
about the VT average
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
— —
$749±$315Lowest
39% below VT
Peru and Westminster 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
$5,951Highest
18% above VT
$4,915
about the VT average
$4,480Lowest
11% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
29%±47.8
VT: 48.4%
41.2%±94
VT: 48.4%
52.9%±100Highest
VT: 48.4%
6.1%±43.8Lowest
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%
9.9%Highest
VT: 10.1%
8.6%
VT: 10.1%
2.2%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
82.9%
VT: 73.2%
90.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
80.1%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981
5 yrs newer than VT
1982Highest
6 yrs newer than VT
1973
3 yrs older than VT
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
19% above VT
27 min
14% above VT
24 minLowest
about the VT average
30 minHighest
26% above VT
Work from home
13.3%±16.4Lowest
VT: 16.9%
20.5%±5.6
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7
VT: 16.9%
23.1%±15.9Highest
VT: 16.9%
Westminster and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — — — #53 of 70 in VT
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 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.