What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rupert has the most kids (13.9% 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	Rupert	Peru
People
Population	676Highest	434Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.2% VT: +2.8%	—
Median age	57.8±9.7Highest 34% above VT	45.3±8.6Lowest 5% above VT
	Rupert and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.9%±3.7Highest VT: 17.9%	8.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Rupert and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	42.3%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4%	21.4%±5Lowest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8%	54.3%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.1%±2.5Highest VT: 7%	1.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7%
	Rupert and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$88,229±$36kLowest 9% above VT	$151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT
	Peru and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$362,500±$63kLowest 14% above VT	$400,000±$105kHighest 26% above VT
	Peru and Rupert 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	$4,594Lowest 9% below VT	$5,000Highest about the VT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	20%±100Lowest VT: 48.4%	29%±47.8Highest VT: 48.4%
	Peru and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6%Highest VT: 10.1%	1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.7%Highest VT: 73.2%	79%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT	1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 14% above VT	28 minHighest 19% above VT
Work from home	18.6%±9.2Highest VT: 16.9%	13.3%±16.4Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Rupert 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.