Compare towns
Highgate vs Peru vs Windham vs Williamstown
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1980).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
Windham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
Williamstown has the most affordable homes ($235k 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 | Highgate | Peru | Windham | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528 |
434Lowest |
594 |
3,579Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | — | +3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
45.3±8.6Highest 5% above VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
42±5Lowest 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 | 15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
19.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Williamstown and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
21.4%±5 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
17%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Windham and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.5% VT: 43.8% |
54.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
17.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
| Williamstown and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,017±$14kLowest about the VT average |
$151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$94,418±$10k 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 | $280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$400,000±$105kHighest 26% above VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$234,900±$24kLowest 26% below VT |
| Peru and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,271±$820 about the VT average |
— | $1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
| Williamstown and Peru 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 |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$3,841 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
29%±47.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% VT: 10.1% |
1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±16.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Windham 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 | — | — | #47 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | — | — | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | — | — | Williamstown Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Highest |
— | — | 9.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.