Compare towns
Peru vs Stowe 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).
Stowe has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
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 | Stowe | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 434Lowest |
5,285Highest |
831 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.3±8.6Lowest 5% above VT |
46.3±7.6 7% above VT |
47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
| Worcester and Stowe 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% |
22.5%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±5 VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Stowe 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% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest 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 |
$93,618±$33k 15% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
| Peru and Stowe 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 |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
| Stowe and Peru 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 |
$1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
| Stowe and Peru 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 |
$7,161Highest 42% above VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29%±47.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
| Peru and Worcester 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% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
78.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 19% above VT |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±16.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Stowe and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Stowe Town School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | — | Stowe High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3 |
— |
| 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.