The Town FilesPeru, Vermont
Town in Bennington County · population 531 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $400,000
- Household income
- $151,875
- Jan low / Jul high
- 8° / 75°
- Snow a year
- 94 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 45.3
Peru is a town of 531 people in Bennington County, Vermont. The median home is worth $400,000, above the typical Vermont town ($278,700). It ranks better for retirees than 99% of Vermont towns, better for a vacation home than 99% of Vermont towns, better for cycling than 99% of Vermont towns.
How Peru ranks
Percentile among Vermont towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Vermont towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Peru is worth $400,000, above the typical Vermont town ($278,700). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $151,875, which is more affordable than 95% of Vermont towns. Median rent is $1,271 a month. 79.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Peru | Typical Vermont town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $400,000 | $278,700 |
| Median rent | $1,271 | $1,117 |
| Median household income | $151,875 | $76,895 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 3.6× |
| Homeownership | 79.0% | 81.6% |
| Median year built | 1981 | 1976 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 72.9% | — |
Who lives in Peru
| People | Peru | Typical Vermont town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.3 | 45.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.4% | 22.2% |
| Under 18 | 8.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 54.3% | 38.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 1.8% | 8.6% |
| Veterans | 9.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.8% | — |
| Work from home | 13.3% | 14.9% |
| Average commute | 27.9 min | 25.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.8% | 89.3% |
Weather in Peru
July highs average 74.7°F and January lows 7.8°F. About 51.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 93.8 inches of snow (typical Vermont town: 84.3 in). Expect about 0 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 175 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Peru since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Vermont town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 29, 1969 about 9.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 29, 1969.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 7 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on August 2, 2017.
Severe weather in Bennington County since 1996
Bennington County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 8, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3609: Tropical Depression Debby |
| July 14, 2023 | Flood | DR-4720: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| July 10, 2023 | Flood | EM-3595: Flooding |
| September 29, 2021 | Flood | DR-4621: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| August 22, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3567: Tropical Storm Henri |
Jobs and pay in Bennington County
Bennington County had 16,750 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,906 a year. Unemployment was 2.5% in 2023; in Peru itself the ACS puts it at 0.3%.
Towns near Peru
- Dorset, VT4.9 mi · 2,133 people · home $569,200
- Weston, VT7.3 mi · 623 people · home $537,700
- Winhall, VT7.8 mi · 1,182 people · home $471,800
- Manchester Center, VT8.0 mi · 2,145 people · home $359,800
- Londonderry, VT8.7 mi · 1,919 people · home $346,300
- Danby, VT9.1 mi · 1,284 people · home $272,400
- Manchester, VT10.1 mi · 4,484 people · home $454,600
- Wallingford, VT10.3 mi · 2,129 people · home $261,900
Peru questions
Is Peru, Vermont a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Peru scores better for retirees than 99% of Vermont towns and quieter than 98%. 21.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.3).
How much does a house cost in Peru?
The median owner-occupied home in Peru is valued at $400,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $151,875, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $1,271 a month.
What is the weather like in Peru?
July highs average 74.7°F and January lows 7.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.0 inches of precipitation a year and 93.8 inches of snow.
Does Peru get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Peru since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 29, 1969. The typical Vermont town has had 2.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)