Compare towns

Peru vs Castleton vs Williamson

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Peru has the highest household income ($102k).
Castleton has the most expensive homes ($225k median).
Williamson has the most people working from home (16.2%).

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.

MeasurePeruCastletonWilliamson
People
Population
6,710
4,453Lowest
6,823Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.7±3.6
5% above U.S.
38.3±4.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
40.9±4.2Highest
5% above U.S.
Williamson and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.8%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.8%±6.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.6%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
Peru and Williamson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
15.4%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
33.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.3%±5.4
U.S.: 6.4%
19.3%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$101,771±$22kHighest
26% above U.S.
$73,854±$23kLowest
9% below U.S.
$90,515±$14k
12% above U.S.
Peru and Williamson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$203,200±$38k
39% below U.S.
$224,800±$71kHighest
32% below U.S.
$192,700±$18kLowest
42% below U.S.
Castleton and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,067±$173
24% below U.S.
$1,137±$195Highest
20% below U.S.
$659±$304Lowest
53% below U.S.
Castleton and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,357
40% above U.S.
$3,167Lowest
about the U.S. average
$5,172Highest
66% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.8%±25.3
U.S.: 51.1%
67.7%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
25.1%±12.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Castleton and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
79%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 min
22% below U.S.
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
25 minHighest
7% below U.S.
Work from home
10.2%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
6.2%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.2%±6.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Williamson and Peru 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 #39 of 70 in VT #221 of 484 in NY
School district PERU CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 WILLIAMSON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town PERU HIGH SCHOOL None in town WILLIAMSON SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school
11.7Highest
—
8.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.