Compare towns
Peru vs Benson vs Andover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
Benson has the most kids (16.5% under 18).
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
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 | Benson | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 434Lowest |
784Highest |
616 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -7.8% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 45.3±8.6Lowest 5% above VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
| Benson and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 8.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.5%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Benson and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.7%±4.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
43.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
$78,625±$8kLowest 3% below VT |
$102,500±$38k 26% above VT |
| Peru and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $400,000±$105kHighest 26% above VT |
$242,000±$26kLowest 24% below VT |
$382,900±$68k 21% above VT |
| Peru and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,271±$820 about the VT average |
$1,113±$170Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,389±$364Highest 13% above VT |
| Andover and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 about the VT average |
$4,125Lowest 18% below VT |
$5,190Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29%±47.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
69.4%±47.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Andover and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
82.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 19% above VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±16.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT 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.