Compare towns
Brookline vs Peru vs Westminster vs Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has the most kids (20% under 18).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
Windham has the youngest population (median age 44.2).
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 | Brookline | Peru | Westminster | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531 |
434Lowest |
2,999Highest |
594 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
45.3±8.6 5% above VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
| Westminster and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.4%±5 VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Westminster and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.3% VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Westminster and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16k about the VT average |
$151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
$71,491±$4kLowest 12% below 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 | $290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
$400,000±$105kHighest 26% above VT |
$273,800±$35kLowest 14% below 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 | $1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$1,271±$820 about the VT average |
$916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
— |
| Brookline and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 about the VT average |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
29%±47.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
| Westminster and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% VT: 10.1% |
1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 21% above VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±16.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster and Brookline 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 | — | — | #53 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | — | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | — |
| High school in town | — | — | Bellows Falls Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.