Compare towns
South Hero vs Strafford 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
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 | Strafford | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,586 |
1,372Lowest |
6,710Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±4.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
40.7±3.6Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| South Hero and Strafford 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% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Peru 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% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| South Hero and Strafford 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% |
53.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±5.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Peru and Strafford 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. |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
$101,771±$22kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| South Hero and Strafford 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. |
$431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
$203,200±$38kLowest 39% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,439±$221Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
$1,067±$173Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| South Hero and Strafford 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. |
$7,149 129% above U.S. |
$4,357Lowest 40% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.6%±21Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.8%±25.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Peru and Strafford 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% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 8% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.3%±8.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| South Hero and Strafford 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 | Strafford School District | 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.