Compare towns
Au Sable vs Peru vs Williston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Au Sable has the most affordable homes ($133k median).
Peru has the youngest population (median age 40.7).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Au Sable | Peru | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,156Lowest |
6,710 |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±8Highest 17% above U.S. |
40.7±3.6Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Peru and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±5.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Peru and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,069±$36kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$101,771±$22k 26% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Williston and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $133,000±$43kLowest 60% below U.S. |
$203,200±$38k 39% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,074±$328 24% below U.S. |
$1,067±$173Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,242Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$4,357 40% above U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.3%±23 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.8%±25.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Peru and Au Sable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 3.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.2%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston 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 | #248 of 484 in NY | #347 of 484 in NY | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | AUSABLE VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | PERU CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | AUSABLE VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL | PERU HIGH SCHOOL | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Lowest |
11.7Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.