Compare towns
Berlin vs Dorset vs Peru
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
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 | Berlin | Dorset | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880Highest |
2,092 |
434Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
45.3±8.6Lowest 5% above VT |
| Berlin and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
21.4%±5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Berlin and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21kLowest 7% above VT |
$111,250±$40k 37% above VT |
$151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
| Peru and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,600±$31kLowest 14% below VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$400,000±$105k 26% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171Lowest 5% below VT |
$1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
$1,271±$820 about the VT average |
| Dorset and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418Lowest 12% below VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
29%±47.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.9% VT: 10.1% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 10% below VT |
22 min 8% below VT |
28 minHighest 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±16.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset 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 | #16 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | — |
| High school in town | None 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.