Compare towns
Peru vs Jay 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 kids (21.8% under 18).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
South Hero has the most expensive homes ($558k median).
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 | Jay | South Hero |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,710Highest |
471Lowest |
1,586 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±3.6Lowest 5% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
51.5±4.8 32% above U.S. |
| Jay and South Hero 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% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.8%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±5.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Peru and South Hero 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. |
$74,792±$25kLowest 7% 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. |
$234,200±$45k 30% below U.S. |
$558,300±$46kHighest 68% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,067±$173Lowest 24% below U.S. |
— | $1,439±$221Highest about the U.S. average |
| South Hero 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. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$7,858Highest 152% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.8%±25.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.6%±21Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Peru and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.3%±8.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and South Hero 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 | — | — |
| School district | PERU CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary 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 | 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.