What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).

Peru has the most people working from home (13.3%).

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	Stratton	Peru
People
Population	532Highest	434Lowest
Median age	31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT	45.3±8.6Highest 5% above VT
Kids under 18	28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9%	8.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4%	21.4%±5Highest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8%	54.3%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7%	1.8%±3.2Highest VT: 7%
	Peru and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$122,708±$33kLowest 51% above VT	$151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT
	Peru and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$400,000±$50k 26% above VT	$400,000±$105k 26% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,208±$979Lowest about the VT average	$1,271±$820Highest about the VT average
	Peru and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,750Lowest 6% below VT	$5,000Highest about the VT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4%	29%±47.8Highest VT: 48.4%
	Peru and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	0%Lowest VT: 10.1%	1.8%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2%	79%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT	1981Lowest 5 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 39% above VT	28 minLowest 19% above VT
Work from home	3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9%	13.3%±16.4Highest VT: 16.9%
	Peru and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.