Compare towns
Peru vs Salisbury vs Putney vs Dorset
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).
Salisbury has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
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 | Salisbury | Putney | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 434Lowest |
1,200 |
2,622Highest |
2,092 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +7.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.3±8.6 5% above VT |
50.6±6.5Highest 17% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
| Salisbury 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% |
16.6%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Salisbury 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% |
30.4%±2.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.3% VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
$99,688±$21k 23% above VT |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$111,250±$40k 37% 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 |
$306,900±$51k 3% below VT |
$300,000±$44kLowest 5% below VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,271±$820 about the VT average |
$1,443±$984Highest 17% above VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,420±$296 15% above VT |
| Salisbury and Dorset 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 |
$4,842Lowest 4% below VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29%±47.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
31.9%±22.6 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Putney 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% |
4.6% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
88.7% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 19% above VT |
19 min 20% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
22 min 8% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±16.4 VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.