Compare towns
Athens vs Peru vs Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athens has the most affordable homes ($240k median).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
Windham has the most kids (17.5% 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 | Athens | Peru | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 431Lowest |
434 |
594Highest |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5Highest 10% above VT |
45.3±8.6 5% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
| Athens and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Windham and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
21.4%±5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Windham and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3Highest VT: 7% |
1.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Athens and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,438±$30kLowest 16% below VT |
$151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
| Peru and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,400±$32kLowest 24% below VT |
$400,000±$105kHighest 26% above VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
| Peru and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$537Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,271±$820Highest about the VT average |
— |
| Peru and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,438 8% above VT |
$5,000Lowest about the VT average |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39Highest VT: 48.4% |
29%±47.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
| Athens and Windham 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% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 53% above VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
27 minLowest 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±16.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Windham and Athens 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 | 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.