Compare towns
South Hero vs Colchester vs Peru
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
South Hero has the most expensive homes ($558k median).
Colchester has the most renters (25.9% rent).
Peru has the most affordable homes ($203k median).
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 | South Hero | Colchester | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,586Lowest |
17,648Highest |
6,710 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±4.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
39.3±1.4Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.7±3.6 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.8%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Peru and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.9%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
10.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±5.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Colchester and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $127,434±$15kHighest 58% above U.S. |
$97,891±$9kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$101,771±$22k 26% above U.S. |
| South Hero and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $558,300±$46kHighest 68% above U.S. |
$394,400±$25k 19% above U.S. |
$203,200±$38kLowest 39% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,439±$221 about the U.S. average |
$1,474±$122Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,067±$173Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Colchester and South Hero are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,858Highest 152% above U.S. |
$5,471 75% above U.S. |
$4,357Lowest 40% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.6%±21Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.2%±10.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.8%±25.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Peru and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 8% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.3%±8.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| South Hero and Colchester 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 | — | #18 of 70 in VT | #347 of 484 in NY |
| School district | South Hero School District | Colchester School District | PERU CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | None in town | Colchester High School | PERU HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.8Highest |
11.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.