What stands out worked out from the figures below

Peru has the most expensive homes ($400k median).

Hancock has the most kids (17.2% 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	Hancock
People
Population	434Lowest	435Highest
Median age	45.3±8.6Highest 5% above VT	33.8±11.6Lowest 22% below VT
	Peru and Hancock 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%	17.2%±5.8Highest VT: 17.9%
	Hancock 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%	19.8%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Peru and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	54.3%Highest VT: 43.8%	34.3%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7%	3.7%±3.6Highest VT: 7%
	Hancock 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	$76,250±$34kLowest 6% below VT
	Peru and Hancock 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	$187,900±$11kLowest 41% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,271±$820Highest about the VT average	$939±$19Lowest 24% below VT
	Peru and Hancock 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	$3,511Lowest 30% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29%±47.8Highest VT: 48.4%	3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Peru and Hancock 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%	5.6%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79%Highest VT: 73.2%	59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT	1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 19% above VT	28 minLowest 17% above VT
Work from home	13.3%±16.4Highest VT: 16.9%	11.7%±5Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Peru and Hancock 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.