Compare towns
Peru vs Charlotte 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 most affordable homes ($400k median).
Charlotte has the most expensive homes ($695k median).
Dorset has the most kids (24% 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.
| Measure | Peru | Charlotte | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 434Lowest |
3,916Highest |
2,092 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.3±8.6Lowest 5% above VT |
52.2±5Highest 21% above VT |
45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
| Charlotte and Dorset 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% |
19.6%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Charlotte 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% |
22.3%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Charlotte and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
66.2% VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
1.4%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Dorset 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 |
$144,375±$27k 78% above VT |
$111,250±$40kLowest 37% above VT |
| Peru and Charlotte are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $400,000±$105kLowest 26% above VT |
$695,300±$53kHighest 120% above VT |
$569,200±$57k 80% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,271±$820Lowest about the VT average |
$1,738±$803Highest 41% above VT |
$1,420±$296 15% above VT |
| Charlotte and Dorset 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 |
$9,221Highest 83% above VT |
$7,489 49% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29%±47.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.1%±28.6 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Charlotte 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% |
3.7% VT: 10.1% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
95.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 19% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
22 minLowest 8% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±16.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.8%±8.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Charlotte and Dorset 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 | — | #3 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | — | None 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.