What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookline has the most kids (20% 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	Brookline	Peru
People
Population	531Highest	434Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.9% VT: +2.8%	—
Median age	45.1±2.7Lowest 5% above VT	45.3±8.6Highest 5% above VT
	Peru and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20%±6Highest VT: 17.9%	8.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Brookline and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4%	21.4%±5Highest VT: 21.4%
	Peru and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.1%Lowest VT: 43.8%	54.3%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±1.6Highest VT: 7%	1.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7%
	Brookline and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,833±$16kLowest about the VT average	$151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT
	Peru and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$290,700±$37kLowest 8% below VT	$400,000±$105kHighest 26% above VT
	Peru and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT	$1,271±$820Lowest about the VT average
	Brookline and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,000 about the VT average	$5,000 about the VT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.8%±94.7Highest VT: 48.4%	29%±47.8Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Brookline and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.2%Highest VT: 10.1%	1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.9%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	28 minHighest 21% above VT	28 minLowest 19% above VT
Work from home	20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9%	13.3%±16.4Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Brookline and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.