What stands out worked out from the figures below

Newfane has the most kids (18.4% 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	Newfane	Peru
People
Population	141Lowest	434Highest
Median age	30.8±12Lowest 29% below VT	45.3±8.6Highest 5% above VT
	Peru and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.4%±16.4Highest VT: 17.9%	8.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Newfane and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.3%±19.9Lowest VT: 21.4%	21.4%±5Highest VT: 21.4%
	Peru and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	64.9%Highest VT: 43.8%	54.3%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±11.4Highest VT: 7%	1.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7%
	Newfane and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,938±$84kLowest 6% above VT	$151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT
	Peru and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$347,400±$55kLowest 10% above VT	$400,000±$105kHighest 26% above VT
	Peru and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,083±$331Lowest 12% below VT	$1,271±$820Highest about the VT average
	Peru and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,833Highest 16% above VT	$5,000Lowest about the VT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	28.6%±100Lowest VT: 48.4%	29%±47.8Highest VT: 48.4%
	Peru and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.8%Highest VT: 10.1%	1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75%Lowest VT: 73.2%	79%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT	1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	12 minLowest 49% below VT	28 minHighest 19% above VT
Work from home	13.1%±14.2Lowest VT: 16.9%	13.3%±16.4Highest VT: 16.9%
	Peru and Newfane 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.