Compare towns
Chester vs Mount Tabor vs Peru
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
Mount Tabor has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
Peru has the most renters (21% rent).
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 | Chester | Mount Tabor | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,992Highest |
304Lowest |
434 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% VT: +2.8% |
— | — |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
57.8±10.6Highest 34% above VT |
45.3±8.6Lowest 5% above VT |
| Mount Tabor and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±6.1 VT: 17.9% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Chester and Mount Tabor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.8%±7.9 VT: 21.4% |
42.4%±18.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.4%±5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Mount Tabor and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.9% VT: 43.8% |
54.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
1.6%±4Lowest VT: 7% |
1.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
| Chester and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
— | $151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
| Peru and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
$420,500±$76kHighest 33% above VT |
$400,000±$105k 26% above VT |
| Mount Tabor and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$2,143±$367Highest 74% above VT |
$1,271±$820 about the VT average |
| Mount Tabor and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
$5,233Highest 4% above VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
29%±47.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Peru and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7% VT: 10.1% |
11%Highest VT: 10.1% |
1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% VT: 73.2% |
92.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1946Lowest 30 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 18% above VT |
46 minHighest 94% above VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.4%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±16.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Chester 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 | #49 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | — | — |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7 |
— | — |
| 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.