What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

White River Junction has the most kids (17.1% 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	White River Junction
People
Population	434Lowest	3,364Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+10.8% VT: +2.8%
Median age	45.3±8.6Highest 5% above VT	33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT
	Peru and White River Junction 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%	17.1%±5Highest VT: 17.9%
	White River Junction and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.4%±5Highest VT: 21.4%	12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	54.3%Highest VT: 43.8%	38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±3.2Highest VT: 7%	1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7%
	Peru and White River Junction 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	$77,168±$4kLowest 5% below VT
	Peru and White River Junction 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	$278,800±$78kLowest 12% below VT
	Peru and White River Junction 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	$1,222±$216Lowest about the VT average
	Peru and White River Junction 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	$5,651Highest 12% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29%±47.8Lowest VT: 48.4%	42.9%±17.3Highest VT: 48.4%
	White River Junction 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%	12.1%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79%Highest VT: 73.2%	43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT	1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 19% above VT	15 minLowest 35% below VT
Work from home	13.3%±16.4Lowest VT: 16.9%	15.7%±5.8Highest VT: 16.9%
	White River Junction and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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.