What stands out worked out from the figures below

Peru has the highest household income ($152k).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Peru	Waitsfield
People
Population	434Lowest	1,918Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+7.3% VT: +2.8%
Median age	45.3±8.6Highest 5% above VT	44.3±5.3Lowest about the VT average
	Peru and Waitsfield 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%	23.8%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	21.4%±5Lowest VT: 21.4%	28.2%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4%
	Waitsfield 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%Lowest VT: 43.8%	63.6%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7%	3.8%±3Highest VT: 7%
	Waitsfield 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	$84,375±$34kLowest 4% above VT
	Peru and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$400,000±$105kLowest 26% 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	$5,000Lowest about the VT average	$6,208Highest 23% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29%±47.8Lowest 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%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79%Lowest VT: 73.2%	79.9%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT	1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 19% above VT	25 minLowest 6% above VT
Work from home	13.3%±16.4Lowest VT: 16.9%	19%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9%
	Waitsfield and Peru 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

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.