What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wheelock has the most kids (18.8% under 18).

Peru has the highest household income ($152k).

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	Wheelock	Peru
People
Population	717Highest	434Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.4% VT: +2.8%	—
Median age	51±5.6Highest 18% above VT	45.3±8.6Lowest 5% above VT
	Wheelock and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.8%±3.5Highest VT: 17.9%	8.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	29.4%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4%	21.4%±5Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Wheelock and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.9%Lowest VT: 43.8%	54.3%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±2.3Highest VT: 7%	1.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7%
	Wheelock and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below VT	$151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT
	Peru and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$189,600±$37kLowest 40% below VT	$400,000±$105kHighest 26% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,271±$820 about the VT average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,937Lowest 42% below VT	$5,000Highest about the VT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4%	29%±47.8Highest VT: 48.4%
	Peru and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.7%Highest VT: 10.1%	1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	97.9%Highest VT: 73.2%	79%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT	1981Lowest 5 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 17% above VT	28 minHighest 19% above VT
Work from home	21.1%±16Highest VT: 16.9%	13.3%±16.4Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Wheelock and Peru 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.