Compare towns
Calais 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
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($354k median).
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 | Calais | Peru | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,713Highest |
434Lowest |
594 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% VT: +2.8% |
— | — |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
45.3±8.6Highest 5% above VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
| Peru and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
21.4%±5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Windham and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.3% VT: 43.8% |
48.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Calais and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
$94,500±$12kLowest 16% above VT |
| Peru and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
$400,000±$105kHighest 26% above VT |
$353,900±$20kLowest 12% above VT |
| Peru and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,271±$820Lowest about the VT average |
— |
| Calais and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$5,000Lowest about the VT average |
$5,951 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
29%±47.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.8% VT: 10.1% |
1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
27 minLowest 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±16.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.