Compare towns
Middlesex vs Peru vs Dummerston vs Montpelier
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
Peru has the most affordable homes ($203k median).
Dummerston has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
Montpelier has the most renters (46.9% 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 | Middlesex | Peru | Dummerston | Montpelier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943Lowest |
6,710 |
2,090 |
8,014Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
40.7±3.6Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
42.3±2.4 9% above U.S. |
| Dummerston and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Peru and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
66.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±5.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Peru and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$101,771±$22k 26% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$81,030±$6kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Middlesex and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$203,200±$38kLowest 39% below U.S. |
$335,300±$22k about the U.S. average |
$375,100±$21k 13% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,067±$173Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$1,392±$126Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,302±$113 8% below U.S. |
| Dummerston and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483 108% above U.S. |
$4,357Lowest 40% above U.S. |
$4,536 45% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.8%±25.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.4%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Peru and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
53.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Montpelier 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 | — | #347 of 484 in NY | — | #9 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | PERU CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71 |
| High school in town | None in town | PERU HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | Montpelier High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.