Compare towns
Highgate vs Peru vs Westminster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Highgate has the most affordable homes ($281k median).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
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 | Highgate | Peru | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
434Lowest |
497 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
— | — |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
45.3±8.6Highest 5% above VT |
43.3±11.5Lowest about the VT average |
| Peru and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.4%±5 VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
1.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Highgate and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
$81,000±$22kLowest about the VT average |
| Peru and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,500±$21kLowest 11% below VT |
$400,000±$105kHighest 26% above VT |
$313,600±$39k about the VT average |
| Peru and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691 27% below VT |
$1,271±$820Highest about the VT average |
$749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
| Peru and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,000Highest about the VT average |
$4,480 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
29%±47.8 VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Highgate and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
2.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
28 minLowest 19% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±16.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster and Highgate 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 | #43 of 70 in VT | — | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | — | — |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
— | — |
| 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.