Compare towns
Peru vs Gorham 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).
Gorham has the most renters (20.3% rent).
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 | Gorham | South Hero |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,710Highest |
4,093 |
1,586Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±3.6Lowest 5% above U.S. |
48.7±8.8 25% above U.S. |
51.5±4.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
| South Hero and Gorham 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% |
19.9%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.8%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Peru and Gorham 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% |
27.1%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gorham and South Hero are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±5.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Peru and Gorham 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. |
$64,874±$8kLowest 20% below 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. |
$263,300±$27k 21% below U.S. |
$558,300±$46kHighest 68% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,067±$173Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$1,165±$208 18% below U.S. |
$1,439±$221Highest about the U.S. average |
| South Hero and Gorham 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. |
$3,497Lowest 12% above U.S. |
$7,858Highest 152% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.8%±25.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
70.6%±21.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.6%±21Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gorham 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% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
21 min 20% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.3%±8.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| South Hero and Gorham 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 | #246 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | PERU CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | GORHAM-MIDDLESEX CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT (MARCUS WHITMAN) | South Hero School District |
| High school in town | PERU HIGH SCHOOL | MARCUS WHITMAN HIGH SCHOOL | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Highest |
9.2Lowest |
— |
| 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.