Compare towns
Andover vs Peru vs Walden
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%).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
Walden has the most affordable homes ($239k median).
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 | Peru | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 616 |
434Lowest |
1,037Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1Highest 14% above VT |
45.3±8.6Lowest 5% above VT |
48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
| Andover and Walden 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% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Walden 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% |
21.4%±5 VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest 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% |
54.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
1.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Walden 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 |
$151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
$88,000±$15kLowest 8% 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 |
$400,000±$105kHighest 26% above VT |
$238,900±$23kLowest 25% below 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 |
$1,271±$820 about the VT average |
$900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
| Andover and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,190Highest about the VT average |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$3,944Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
29%±47.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Andover and Walden 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% |
1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% above VT |
28 minHighest 19% above VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±16.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school 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.