Compare towns
Peru vs Pawlet vs Ira
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).
Pawlet has the most kids (20.3% under 18).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Pawlet | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 434 |
1,480Highest |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.6% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 45.3±8.6Lowest 5% above VT |
47.9±7.5 11% above VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
| Ira and Pawlet 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% |
20.3%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Pawlet and Ira 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% |
27.3%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ira and Pawlet 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% |
37.5% VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
4.4%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Pawlet and Ira 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 |
$62,273±$14kLowest 23% below VT |
$71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
| Peru and Ira 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 |
$266,200±$44kLowest 16% below VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,271±$820Highest about the VT average |
$1,153±$215 7% below VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
| Peru and Pawlet 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 |
$3,924Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29%±47.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.6%±21.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Pawlet and Ira 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% |
10% VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.8% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 19% above VT |
33 minHighest 40% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±16.4 VT: 16.9% |
20.4%±8.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Pawlet and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Mettawee School District #84 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.