What stands out worked out from the figures below

White River Junction has the most kids (17.1% 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	White River Junction	Peru
People
Population	3,364Highest	434Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.8% VT: +2.8%	—
Median age	33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT	45.3±8.6Highest 5% above VT
	Peru and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.1%±5Highest VT: 17.9%	8.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9%
	White River Junction and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4%	21.4%±5Highest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8%	54.3%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7%	1.8%±3.2Highest VT: 7%
	Peru and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,168±$4kLowest 5% below VT	$151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT
	Peru and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$278,800±$78kLowest 12% below VT	$400,000±$105kHighest 26% above VT
	Peru and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,222±$216Lowest about the VT average	$1,271±$820Highest about the VT average
	Peru and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,651Highest 12% above VT	$5,000Lowest about the VT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.9%±17.3Highest VT: 48.4%	29%±47.8Lowest VT: 48.4%
	White River Junction and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.1%Highest VT: 10.1%	1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%	79%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT	1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	15 minLowest 35% below VT	28 minHighest 19% above VT
Work from home	15.7%±5.8Highest VT: 16.9%	13.3%±16.4Lowest VT: 16.9%
	White River Junction and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.