Compare towns

Old Bennington vs Westminster vs Peru

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Old Bennington has the most people working from home (46.7%).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Peru has the most renters (21% rent).

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.

MeasureOld BenningtonWestminsterPeru
People
Population
182Lowest
497Highest
434
Median age
45±21.3
4% above VT
43.3±11.5Lowest
about the VT average
45.3±8.6Highest
5% above VT
Peru and Old Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.5%±12
VT: 17.9%
28.4%±7.1Highest
VT: 17.9%
8.5%±5.9Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Westminster and Old Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
30.8%±8Highest
VT: 21.4%
19.7%±11.4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
21.4%±5
VT: 21.4%
Old Bennington and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
84.9%Highest
VT: 43.8%
45.4%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
54.3%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0%±7.8Lowest
VT: 7%
2.2%±3.5Highest
VT: 7%
1.8%±3.2
VT: 7%
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
$168,750±$53kHighest
108% above VT
$81,000±$22kLowest
about the VT average
$151,875±$83k
87% above VT
Old Bennington and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$445,500±$105kHighest
41% above VT
$313,600±$39kLowest
about the VT average
$400,000±$105k
26% above VT
Old Bennington and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,063±$1k
14% below VT
$749±$315Lowest
39% below VT
$1,271±$820Highest
about the VT average
Peru and Old Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,690Highest
72% above VT
$4,480Lowest
11% below VT
$5,000
about the VT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
40%±100Highest
VT: 48.4%
6.1%±43.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
29%±47.8
VT: 48.4%
Old Bennington and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
0%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
2.2%Highest
VT: 10.1%
1.8%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.8%Highest
VT: 73.2%
80.1%
VT: 73.2%
79%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1981Highest
5 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
20% above VT
30 minHighest
26% above VT
28 minLowest
19% above VT
Work from home
46.7%±3.9Highest
VT: 16.9%
23.1%±15.9
VT: 16.9%
13.3%±16.4Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #53 of 70 in VT —
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.