Compare towns
Andover vs Dummerston vs Peru vs Reading
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%).
Dummerston has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
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 | Dummerston | Peru | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616 |
2,090Highest |
434Lowest |
699 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
45.3±8.6Lowest 5% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
| Reading and Andover 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% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±4.3 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
21.4%±5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.3% VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
1.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
| Reading 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 |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% 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 |
$335,300±$22kLowest 6% above VT |
$400,000±$105kHighest 26% above VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% 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±$364 13% above VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$1,271±$820 about the VT average |
$1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
| Dummerston and Andover 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 |
$4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
29%±47.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Andover and Reading 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% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±16.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| 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.