Compare towns
Peru vs Calais vs Putney vs Dorset
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).
Calais has the most homeowners (92.4%).
Putney has the most affordable homes ($300k median).
Dorset has the most expensive homes ($569k 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 | Calais | Putney | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 434Lowest |
1,713 |
2,622Highest |
2,092 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.3±8.6 5% above VT |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
45.9±7.5Highest 6% above VT |
| Dorset 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% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±5 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Dorset and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.3% VT: 43.8% |
55.4% VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$111,250±$40k 37% above VT |
| Peru and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $400,000±$105k 26% above VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
$300,000±$44kLowest 5% below VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,271±$820 about the VT average |
$1,408±$392 14% above VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
| Dorset and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000Lowest about the VT average |
$6,586 31% above VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29%±47.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Putney 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% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 19% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
22 min 8% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±16.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Calais 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 | — | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.