What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Bridgewater has the most kids (12.8% 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	Bridgewater
People
Population	434Lowest	980Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-3.5% VT: +2.8%
Median age	45.3±8.6Lowest 5% above VT	57.1±8Highest 32% above VT
	Bridgewater and Peru 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%	12.8%±5.8Highest VT: 17.9%
	Bridgewater and Peru 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%	30.2%±0.7Highest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	54.3%Highest VT: 43.8%	40.3%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7%	5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7%
	Bridgewater 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	$70,272±$3kLowest 13% below VT
	Peru and Bridgewater 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	$218,300±$55kLowest 31% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,271±$820Highest about the VT average	$850±$778Lowest 31% below VT
	Peru and Bridgewater 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	$3,418Lowest 32% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29%±47.8Lowest VT: 48.4%	59.7%±39.1Highest VT: 48.4%
	Bridgewater and Peru 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%	14.8%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79%Lowest VT: 73.2%	85.4%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT	1976Lowest same as VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 19% above VT	24 minLowest about the VT average
Work from home	13.3%±16.4Highest VT: 16.9%	10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Peru and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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.