Compare towns

Mount Tabor vs Barre vs Peru

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mount Tabor has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
Barre has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Peru has the most people working from home (13.3%).

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.

MeasureMount TaborBarrePeru
People
Population
304Lowest
8,412Highest
434
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-6.2%
VT: +2.8%
—
Median age
57.8±10.6Highest
34% above VT
42.2±6.6Lowest
about the VT average
45.3±8.6
5% above VT
Mount Tabor and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
10.2%±6.1
VT: 17.9%
13.5%±3.8Highest
VT: 17.9%
8.5%±5.9Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Barre and Mount Tabor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
42.4%±18.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
19.4%±3.9Lowest
VT: 21.4%
21.4%±5
VT: 21.4%
Mount Tabor and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
34.9%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
36.1%
VT: 43.8%
54.3%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.6%±4Lowest
VT: 7%
3.4%±1.9Highest
VT: 7%
1.8%±3.2
VT: 7%
Barre and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian —
$65,625±$7kLowest
19% below VT
$151,875±$83kHighest
87% above VT
Peru and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$420,500±$76kHighest
33% above VT
$210,400±$15kLowest
34% below 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
$2,143±$367Highest
74% above VT
$1,093±$58Lowest
11% below 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
$5,233Highest
4% above VT
$5,192
3% above VT
$5,000Lowest
about the VT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
34.4%±10.3Highest
VT: 48.4%
29%±47.8
VT: 48.4%
Barre and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11%
VT: 10.1%
17.3%Highest
VT: 10.1%
1.8%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.3%Highest
VT: 73.2%
50.4%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
79%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1946Lowest
30 yrs older than VT
1947
29 yrs older than VT
1981Highest
5 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
46 minHighest
94% above VT
19 minLowest
21% below VT
28 min
19% above VT
Work from home
10.4%±8.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
10.5%±4.1
VT: 16.9%
13.3%±16.4Highest
VT: 16.9%
Peru and Barre 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 — #19 of 70 in VT —
School district — Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center —
High school in town — Spaulding Union High School —
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.7
—
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.