Compare towns
Peru vs Dorset vs Middlesex 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).
Dorset has the most expensive homes ($569k median).
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
Andover has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
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 | Dorset | Middlesex | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 434Lowest |
2,092Highest |
1,943 |
616 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 45.3±8.6 5% above VT |
45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
49.2±5.1Highest 14% above VT |
| Andover 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% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
11.5%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Middlesex 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% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.7%±4.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Andover 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% VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
43.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Dorset 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 |
$111,250±$40k 37% above VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$102,500±$38kLowest 26% 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 |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$376,300±$40kLowest 19% above VT |
$382,900±$68k 21% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,271±$820Lowest about the VT average |
$1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,389±$364 13% above VT |
| Dorset and Andover 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 |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
$5,190 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29%±47.8 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
69.4%±47.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Andover 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% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8% VT: 10.1% |
4.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 19% above VT |
22 minLowest 8% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±16.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.