What stands out worked out from the figures below

Peru has the highest household income ($152k).

Bolton has the most kids (14.9% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Peru	Bolton
People
Population	434Lowest	1,163Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+10.1% VT: +2.8%
Median age	45.3±8.6Highest 5% above VT	36.3±1.7Lowest 16% below VT
	Peru and Bolton 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%	14.9%±4Highest VT: 17.9%
	Bolton and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.4%±5Highest VT: 21.4%	6.7%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	54.3%Lowest VT: 43.8%	58.4%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7%	2.7%±1.8Highest VT: 7%
	Bolton and Peru 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	$111,125±$17kLowest 37% above VT
	Peru and Bolton 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	$311,600±$42kLowest about the VT average
	Peru and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,271±$820Lowest about the VT average	$1,299±$273Highest 5% above VT
	Bolton and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,000Highest about the VT average	$4,826Lowest 4% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29%±47.8Highest VT: 48.4%	28%±30.8Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Peru and Bolton 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%	2.9%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79%Lowest VT: 73.2%	81.6%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 5 yrs newer than VT	1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 19% above VT	28 minLowest 17% above VT
Work from home	13.3%±16.4Lowest VT: 16.9%	22.9%±8.2Highest VT: 16.9%
	Bolton and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.