Compare towns
Peru vs Erwin vs South Hero
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 most affordable homes ($203k median).
Erwin has the shortest commute (15 min average).
South Hero has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).
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 | Peru | Erwin | South Hero |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,710 |
7,965Highest |
1,586Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±3.6Lowest 5% above U.S. |
43.8±2 13% above U.S. |
51.5±4.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.8%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Peru and Erwin 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% |
17.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±5.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Peru and Erwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,771±$22k 26% above U.S. |
$88,333±$16kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$127,434±$15kHighest 58% above U.S. |
| South Hero and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $203,200±$38kLowest 39% below U.S. |
$223,700±$26k 33% below U.S. |
$558,300±$46kHighest 68% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,067±$173Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$1,271±$136 10% below U.S. |
$1,439±$221Highest about the U.S. average |
| South Hero and Erwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,357Lowest 40% above U.S. |
$5,829 87% above U.S. |
$7,858Highest 152% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.8%±25.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.6%±21Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Erwin and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 22% below U.S. |
15 minLowest 43% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.2%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.3%±8.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #347 of 484 in NY | #431 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | PERU CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | CORNING CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | South Hero School District |
| High school in town | PERU HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 5 photos → |
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.