What stands out worked out from the figures below

Richmond has the most kids (21.5% under 18).

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

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	Richmond	Peru
People
Population	4,159Highest	434Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.1% VT: +2.8%	—
Median age	43.7±5.6Lowest about the VT average	45.3±8.6Highest 5% above VT
	Peru and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.5%±5Highest VT: 17.9%	8.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	19.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4%	21.4%±5Highest VT: 21.4%
	Peru and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	59.1%Highest VT: 43.8%	54.3%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.7Highest VT: 7%	1.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7%
	Richmond and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$108,235±$24kLowest 33% above VT	$151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT
	Peru and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$432,200±$39kHighest 37% above VT	$400,000±$105kLowest 26% above VT
	Richmond 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
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,868Highest 36% above VT	$5,000Lowest about the VT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	28.5%±15.8Lowest VT: 48.4%	29%±47.8Highest VT: 48.4%
	Peru and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.2%Highest VT: 10.1%	1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.8%Lowest VT: 73.2%	79%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT	1981Lowest 5 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 6% above VT	28 minHighest 19% above VT
Work from home	22.5%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9%	13.3%±16.4Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Richmond 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	#5 of 70 in VT	—
School district	Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401	—
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.