Compare towns
Berlin 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
Berlin has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
Windham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
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 | Berlin | Peru | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880Highest |
434Lowest |
594 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% VT: +2.8% |
— | — |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
45.3±8.6 5% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
| Berlin and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Windham and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.4%±5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
1.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Berlin and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21kLowest 7% above 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 | $273,600±$31kLowest 14% 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 | $1,169±$171Lowest 5% below VT |
$1,271±$820Highest about the VT average |
— |
| Peru and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418Lowest 12% below VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
29%±47.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Windham and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 10% below VT |
28 minHighest 19% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±16.4 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Windham and Peru 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 | #16 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| 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.