Compare towns
Colchester vs Peru vs Williston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Colchester has the youngest population (median age 39.3).
Peru has the most affordable homes ($203k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Colchester | Peru | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,648Highest |
6,710Lowest |
10,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.4Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.7±3.6 5% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Williston and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Peru and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.9%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±5.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Colchester and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,891±$9kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$101,771±$22k 26% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Williston and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,400±$25k 19% above U.S. |
$203,200±$38kLowest 39% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,474±$122 4% above U.S. |
$1,067±$173Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,471 75% above U.S. |
$4,357Lowest 40% above U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.2%±10.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.8%±25.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Peru and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 25% below U.S. |
21 minHighest 22% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Colchester 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 | #18 of 70 in VT | #347 of 484 in NY | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Colchester School District | PERU CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | Colchester High School | PERU HIGH SCHOOL | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Highest |
11.7Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.