What stands out worked out from the figures below

Benson has the most kids (16.5% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Benson	Peru
People
Population	784Highest	434Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-7.8% VT: +2.8%	—
Median age	51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT	45.3±8.6Lowest 5% above VT
	Benson and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9%	8.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Benson and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4%	21.4%±5Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Benson and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8%	54.3%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7%±5.8Highest VT: 7%	1.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7%
	Benson and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,625±$8kLowest 3% below VT	$151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT
	Peru and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$242,000±$26kLowest 24% below VT	$400,000±$105kHighest 26% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,113±$170Lowest 10% below VT	$1,271±$820Highest about the VT average
	Peru and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,125Lowest 18% below VT	$5,000Highest about the VT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4%	29%±47.8Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Benson and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.4%Highest VT: 10.1%	1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.9%Highest VT: 73.2%	79%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT	1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 35% above VT	28 minLowest 19% above VT
Work from home	18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9%	13.3%±16.4Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Benson and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.