Compare towns

Ripton vs Worcester vs Peru

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ripton has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).

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.

MeasureRiptonWorcesterPeru
People
Population
508
831Highest
434Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-3.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
—
Median age
47.7±14.2Highest
11% above VT
47±2.7
9% above VT
45.3±8.6Lowest
5% above VT
Ripton and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
11.8%±6.3
VT: 17.9%
12.8%±3.9Highest
VT: 17.9%
8.5%±5.9Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Worcester and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
30.5%±7.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
19.5%±2.5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
21.4%±5
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+
48%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
53%
VT: 43.8%
54.3%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
20.1%±6.3Highest
VT: 7%
6.9%±4.7
VT: 7%
1.8%±3.2Lowest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$112,917±$15k
39% above VT
$73,833±$18kLowest
9% below VT
$151,875±$83kHighest
87% 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
$394,400±$61k
25% above VT
$271,100±$27kLowest
14% below VT
$400,000±$105kHighest
26% 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 —
$1,023±$136Lowest
17% below VT
$1,271±$820Highest
about the VT average
Peru and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,915
about the VT average
$4,421Lowest
12% below VT
$5,000Highest
about the VT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.9%±100Highest
VT: 48.4%
25.5%±37Lowest
VT: 48.4%
29%±47.8
VT: 48.4%
Ripton and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.6%Highest
VT: 10.1%
5.9%
VT: 10.1%
1.8%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
85.9%
VT: 73.2%
79%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973Lowest
3 yrs older than VT
1976
same as VT
1981Highest
5 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
about the VT average
29 minHighest
22% above VT
28 min
19% above VT
Work from home
17.2%±8.7
VT: 16.9%
23.6%±4.8Highest
VT: 16.9%
13.3%±16.4Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Worcester 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 Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 —
High school in town None in town None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.