What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hancock has the most kids (17.2% under 18).

Peru has the most expensive homes ($400k median).

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	Hancock	Peru
People
Population	435Highest	434Lowest
Median age	33.8±11.6Lowest 22% below VT	45.3±8.6Highest 5% above VT
	Peru and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.2%±5.8Highest VT: 17.9%	8.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Hancock and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.8%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4%	21.4%±5Highest VT: 21.4%
	Peru and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.3%Lowest VT: 43.8%	54.3%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±3.6Highest VT: 7%	1.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7%
	Hancock and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$76,250±$34kLowest 6% below VT	$151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT
	Peru and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$187,900±$11kLowest 41% below VT	$400,000±$105kHighest 26% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$939±$19Lowest 24% below VT	$1,271±$820Highest about the VT average
	Peru and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,511Lowest 30% below VT	$5,000Highest about the VT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4%	29%±47.8Highest VT: 48.4%
	Peru and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.6%Highest VT: 10.1%	1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2%	79%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT	1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 17% above VT	28 minHighest 19% above VT
Work from home	11.7%±5Lowest VT: 16.9%	13.3%±16.4Highest VT: 16.9%
	Peru and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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.