Compare towns

Old Bennington vs Jay vs Peru

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Old Bennington has the most people working from home (46.7%).
Jay has the most affordable homes ($234k median).
Peru has the most renters (21% 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.

MeasureOld BenningtonJayPeru
People
Population
182Lowest
471Highest
434
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+5.8%
VT: +2.8%
—
Median age
45±21.3Lowest
4% above VT
52.1±10.5Highest
21% above VT
45.3±8.6
5% above VT
Jay and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.5%±12Highest
VT: 17.9%
14.2%±7.3
VT: 17.9%
8.5%±5.9Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Old Bennington and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
30.8%±8Highest
VT: 21.4%
15.5%±6.3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
21.4%±5
VT: 21.4%
Old Bennington and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
84.9%Highest
VT: 43.8%
45.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
54.3%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0%±7.8Lowest
VT: 7%
1.9%±2.5Highest
VT: 7%
1.8%±3.2
VT: 7%
Jay and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$168,750±$53kHighest
108% above VT
$74,792±$25kLowest
8% below VT
$151,875±$83k
87% above VT
Old Bennington and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$445,500±$105kHighest
41% above VT
$234,200±$45kLowest
26% below VT
$400,000±$105k
26% above VT
Old Bennington and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,063±$1kLowest
14% below VT
—
$1,271±$820Highest
about the VT average
Peru and Old Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,690Highest
72% above VT
$3,588Lowest
29% below VT
$5,000
about the VT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
40%±100Highest
VT: 48.4%
40%±100Highest
VT: 48.4%
29%±47.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Below poverty line
0%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
8.7%Highest
VT: 10.1%
1.8%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.8%
VT: 73.2%
97%Highest
VT: 73.2%
79%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
2001Highest
25 yrs newer than VT
1981
5 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
20% above VT
40 minHighest
69% above VT
28 minLowest
19% above VT
Work from home
46.7%±3.9Highest
VT: 16.9%
27.3%±13.7
VT: 16.9%
13.3%±16.4Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Schools
School district — Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District —
High school in town — None in town —
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.