Compare towns
Dorset vs Peru vs Westminster vs Winhall
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
Westminster has the most affordable homes ($314k median).
Winhall has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
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 | Dorset | Peru | Westminster | Winhall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,092Highest |
434Lowest |
497 |
752 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | — | +53.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
45.3±8.6 5% above VT |
43.3±11.5Lowest about the VT average |
48.9±6.1Highest 13% above VT |
| Winhall and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.5 VT: 17.9% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
17%±6.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.4%±5 VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±5.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Dorset and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.3% VT: 43.8% |
45.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
67.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5 VT: 7% |
3.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Winhall and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$40k 37% above VT |
$151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
$81,000±$22kLowest about the VT average |
$95,500±$23k 18% above VT |
| Peru and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$400,000±$105k 26% above VT |
$313,600±$39kLowest about the VT average |
$471,800±$55k 49% above VT |
| Dorset and Winhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
$1,271±$820 about the VT average |
$749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
$1,094±$732 11% below VT |
| Dorset and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$4,480Lowest 11% below VT |
$6,567 30% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
29%±47.8 VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
37.5%±38.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Winhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
2.2% VT: 10.1% |
5.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.1% VT: 73.2% |
80.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 8% below VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±16.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9 VT: 16.9% |
18.4%±9 VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Westminster 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 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | — | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | — |
| 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.