Compare towns
Andover vs Barre vs Peru
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
Barre has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
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.
| Measure | Andover | Barre | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 616 |
8,412Highest |
434Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -6.2% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1Highest 14% above VT |
42.2±6.6Lowest about the VT average |
45.3±8.6 5% above VT |
| Andover and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.5%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Barre and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±4.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.4%±5 VT: 21.4% |
| Andover and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.3% VT: 43.8% |
36.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
1.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Barre and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,500±$38k 26% above VT |
$65,625±$7kLowest 19% below VT |
$151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
| Peru and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $382,900±$68k 21% above VT |
$210,400±$15kLowest 34% below VT |
$400,000±$105kHighest 26% above VT |
| Peru and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,389±$364Highest 13% above VT |
$1,093±$58Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,271±$820 about the VT average |
| Andover and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,190 about the VT average |
$5,192Highest 3% above VT |
$5,000Lowest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3 VT: 48.4% |
29%±47.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Andover and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.6% VT: 10.1% |
17.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
28 minHighest 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±16.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Peru 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 | — | #19 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | — |
| High school in town | — | Spaulding Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— |
| 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.