Compare towns
Peru vs Reading vs Middlesex
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).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Reading | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 434Lowest |
699 |
1,943Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.3±8.6 5% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
| Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Peru 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% |
46%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Reading 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 |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
| Peru and Middlesex 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 |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$376,300±$40kLowest 19% above VT |
| Peru and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,271±$820 about the VT average |
$1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
| Middlesex and Peru 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 |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29%±47.8 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Peru 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% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 19% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
27 minLowest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±16.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | 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 |
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.