What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Wilder has the shortest commute (17 min average).

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	Wilder
People
Population	434Lowest	3,087Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+81.7% VT: +2.8%
Median age	45.3±8.6Lowest 5% above VT	45.5±8.9Highest 6% above VT
	Wilder and Peru 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%	11.8%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9%
	Wilder and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.4%±5Lowest VT: 21.4%	27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4%
	Wilder 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%	60.2%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7%	8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7%
	Wilder 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	$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below VT
	Peru and Wilder 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	$273,200±$18kLowest 14% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,271±$820Highest about the VT average	$1,142±$451Lowest 7% below VT
	Peru and Wilder 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	$5,505Highest 9% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29%±47.8Lowest VT: 48.4%	39.9%±17.2Highest VT: 48.4%
	Wilder 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%	9.3%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79%Highest VT: 73.2%	62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 5 yrs newer than VT	1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 19% above VT	17 minLowest 29% below VT
Work from home	13.3%±16.4Highest VT: 16.9%	12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Peru and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.