Compare towns
Jay vs Peru vs Westminster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has the most affordable homes ($197k 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 | Jay | Peru | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,354Highest |
434Lowest |
497 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 48.8±4.6Highest 25% above U.S. |
45.3±8.6 16% above U.S. |
43.3±11.5Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Jay and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
28.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 25.3%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±11.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jay and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Westminster and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,380±$19kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$151,875±$83kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$81,000±$22k about the U.S. average |
| Peru and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,900±$22kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$400,000±$105kHighest 20% above U.S. |
$313,600±$39k 6% below U.S. |
| Peru and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,272±$366Highest 10% below U.S. |
$1,271±$820 10% below U.S. |
$749±$315Lowest 47% below U.S. |
| Jay and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,741Lowest 20% above U.S. |
$5,000Highest 60% above U.S. |
$4,480 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.4%±21.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
29%±47.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Peru and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±16.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.1%±15.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westminster and Peru 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 | AUSABLE VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.