Compare towns
Sumner vs Windsor vs Peru vs Buckfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sumner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Windsor has the most renters (42.2% rent).
Peru has the most affordable homes ($141k median).
Buckfield has the most kids (25.7% under 18).
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 | Sumner | Windsor | Peru | Buckfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 845Lowest |
3,554Highest |
1,501 |
2,403 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.1±8.4Highest 44% above U.S. |
44.8±6.5 15% above U.S. |
48±7.6 23% above U.S. |
37.7±10.1Lowest 3% below U.S. |
| Sumner and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±4 U.S.: 22% |
25.7%±7.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Buckfield and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.7%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Peru and Buckfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $57,750±$19k 28% below U.S. |
$52,484±$11kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$66,827±$19k 17% below U.S. |
$77,917±$41kHighest 3% below U.S. |
| Buckfield and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $150,000±$73k 55% below U.S. |
$207,500±$31k 38% below U.S. |
$141,300±$38kLowest 58% below U.S. |
$227,700±$18kHighest 32% below U.S. |
| Buckfield and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,026±$89Highest 27% below U.S. |
$723±$16 49% below U.S. |
$521±$33Lowest 63% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,167 31% below U.S. |
$5,209Highest 67% above U.S. |
$1,799Lowest 42% below U.S. |
$2,860 8% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.5%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
21.7%±37.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±55Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sumner and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
57.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 60% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±12.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sumner and Buckfield 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 | — | #61 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | RSU 10 | — | RSU 56 | RSU 10 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Buckfield Jr-Sr High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.2 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.