What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mendon has the most kids (14.6% 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	Mendon	Peru
People
Population	1,113Highest	434Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.5% VT: +2.8%	—
Median age	53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT	45.3±8.6Lowest 5% above VT
	Mendon and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.6%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9%	8.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Mendon and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4%	21.4%±5Lowest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	49.4%Lowest VT: 43.8%	54.3%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7%	1.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7%
	Mendon and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$100,524±$23kLowest 24% above VT	$151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT
	Peru and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$357,000±$44kLowest 13% above VT	$400,000±$105kHighest 26% above VT
	Peru and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,230±$651Lowest about the VT average	$1,271±$820Highest about the VT average
	Peru and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,342Highest 6% above VT	$5,000Lowest about the VT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4%	29%±47.8Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Mendon and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.2%Highest VT: 10.1%	1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.2%Highest VT: 73.2%	79%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT	1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 28% below VT	28 minHighest 19% above VT
Work from home	22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9%	13.3%±16.4Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Mendon and Peru 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.