Compare towns
Peru vs Worcester vs Berlin
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).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Berlin has the most kids (16.6% 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.
| Measure | Peru | Worcester | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 434Lowest |
831 |
2,880Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.3±8.6Lowest 5% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
| Berlin 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% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Berlin 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% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Berlin 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 |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
| Peru and Berlin 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 |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
| Peru and Berlin 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 |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,169±$171 5% below VT |
| Peru and Berlin 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 |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$4,418Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29%±47.8 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Berlin 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% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 19% above VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±16.4 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #16 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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.