Compare towns
Peru vs Rupert vs Waitsfield
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).
Rupert has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
Waitsfield has the most kids (23.8% 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 | Rupert | Waitsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 434Lowest |
676 |
1,918Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.3±8.6 5% above VT |
57.8±9.7Highest 34% above VT |
44.3±5.3Lowest about the VT average |
| Rupert 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% |
13.9%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
23.8%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
42.3%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Rupert and Waitsfield 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% |
30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
63.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
3.8%±3Highest VT: 7% |
| Waitsfield and Rupert 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 |
$88,229±$36k 9% above VT |
$84,375±$34kLowest 4% above VT |
| Peru and Rupert 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 |
$362,500±$63kLowest 14% above VT |
$422,400±$92kHighest 33% above VT |
| Waitsfield and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,271±$820Highest about the VT average |
— | $1,200±$821Lowest about the VT average |
| Peru and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 about the VT average |
$4,594Lowest 9% below VT |
$6,208Highest 23% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29%±47.8 VT: 48.4% |
20%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.4%±30.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Waitsfield 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% |
6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 19% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
25 minLowest 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±16.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±9.2 VT: 16.9% |
19%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Waitsfield and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| 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.