Compare towns
South Hero vs Middlesex 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).
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
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 | Middlesex | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,586Lowest |
1,943 |
6,710Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±4.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
40.7±3.6Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| South Hero and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.8%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Peru and Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| South Hero and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±5.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Peru and Middlesex 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. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$101,771±$22kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| South Hero and Middlesex 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. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$203,200±$38kLowest 39% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,439±$221Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,067±$173Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| South Hero and Middlesex 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. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$4,357Lowest 40% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.6%±21 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.8%±25.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Peru and South Hero 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% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.3%±8.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and South Hero 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 | — | — | #347 of 484 in NY |
| School district | South Hero School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | PERU CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | PERU HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.7 |
| 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.