Compare towns
Peru 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 youngest population (median age 40.7).
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.
| Measure | Peru | Williston | Au Sable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,710 |
10,144Highest |
3,156Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest 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. |
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% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±7.7Lowest 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% |
21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston and Peru 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% |
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% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±3.1Lowest 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. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$95,069±$36kLowest 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. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$133,000±$43kLowest 60% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,067±$173Lowest 24% 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. |
$5,592Highest 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% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest 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% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 22% 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% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
3.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #248 of 484 in NY |
| School district | PERU CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | AUSABLE VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | PERU HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | AUSABLE VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Highest |
— | 11.6Lowest |
| 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.