Compare towns

Peru vs Salisbury vs Worcester

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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).

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.

MeasurePeruSalisburyWorcester
People
Population
434Lowest
1,200Highest
831
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+7.5%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-3.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
45.3±8.6Lowest
5% above VT
50.6±6.5Highest
17% above VT
47±2.7
9% above VT
Salisbury and Worcester 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%±3.2Highest
VT: 17.9%
12.8%±3.9
VT: 17.9%
Salisbury and Worcester 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%
19.5%±2.5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
54.3%Highest
VT: 43.8%
34.6%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
53%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.8%±3.2
VT: 7%
1.6%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
6.9%±4.7Highest
VT: 7%
Worcester 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
$99,688±$21k
23% above VT
$73,833±$18kLowest
9% below VT
Peru and Salisbury 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
$306,900±$51k
3% below VT
$271,100±$27kLowest
14% below VT
Peru and Salisbury 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
$1,443±$984Highest
17% above VT
$1,023±$136Lowest
17% below VT
Salisbury and Peru 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
$4,842
4% below VT
$4,421Lowest
12% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
29%±47.8
VT: 48.4%
31.9%±22.6Highest
VT: 48.4%
25.5%±37Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Salisbury 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%
4.6%
VT: 10.1%
5.9%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
88.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
85.9%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Highest
5 yrs newer than VT
1967Lowest
9 yrs older than VT
1976
same as VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
19% above VT
19 minLowest
20% below VT
29 minHighest
22% above VT
Work from home
13.3%±16.4
VT: 16.9%
6%±2.2Lowest
VT: 16.9%
23.6%±4.8Highest
VT: 16.9%
Worcester and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 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.