Compare towns

Peru vs Williamson vs Williston vs Au Sable

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).
Williamson has the most homeowners (86.9%).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Au Sable has the most affordable homes ($133k 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.

MeasurePeruWilliamsonWillistonAu Sable
People
Population
6,710
6,823
10,144Highest
3,156Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.7±3.6Lowest
5% above U.S.
40.9±4.2
5% above U.S.
45.4±4.5Highest
17% above U.S.
45.4±8Highest
17% above U.S.
Kids under 18
21.8%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.6%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.5%±5.2
U.S.: 22%
20.3%±7.7
U.S.: 22%
Peru and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
15.4%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.5
U.S.: 17.2%
21%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.2%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Williston and Williamson 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%
34.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
54.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
19.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.3%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.7%±2.7
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±3.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Peru and Williston 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.
$90,515±$14kLowest
12% above U.S.
$106,967±$12kHighest
32% above U.S.
$95,069±$36k
18% above U.S.
Williston 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±$38k
39% below U.S.
$192,700±$18k
42% below U.S.
$475,800±$40kHighest
43% above U.S.
$133,000±$43kLowest
60% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,067±$173
24% below U.S.
$659±$304Lowest
53% below U.S.
$1,832±$130Highest
30% above U.S.
$1,074±$328
24% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,357
40% above U.S.
$5,172
66% above U.S.
$5,592Highest
79% above U.S.
$3,242Lowest
4% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.8%±25.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
25.1%±12.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.9%±17.4
U.S.: 51.1%
47.3%±23
U.S.: 51.1%
Peru and Au Sable 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%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
76.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
1993Highest
13 yrs newer than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 min
22% below U.S.
25 min
7% below U.S.
20 minLowest
25% below U.S.
26 minHighest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
10.2%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
16.2%±6.5
U.S.: 15.1%
22.3%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
3.4%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Williston and Williamson 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 #221 of 484 in NY #11 of 70 in VT #248 of 484 in NY
School district PERU CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT WILLIAMSON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 AUSABLE VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town PERU HIGH SCHOOL WILLIAMSON SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL None in town AUSABLE VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school
11.7Highest
8.3Lowest
—
11.6
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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.