Compare towns
Pawlet vs Peru vs Williston vs Whitingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pawlet has the oldest population (median age 47.9).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
Williston has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Whitingham has the most affordable homes ($262k 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 | Pawlet | Peru | Williston | Whitingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,480 |
434Lowest |
10,144Highest |
1,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±7.5Highest 11% above VT |
45.3±8.6Lowest 5% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
46.4±7.1 8% above VT |
| Pawlet and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
21.4%±5 VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Whitingham and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.5% VT: 43.8% |
54.3% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.9 VT: 7% |
1.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Williston and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,273±$14kLowest 23% below VT |
$151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$70,625±$11k 13% below VT |
| Peru and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $266,200±$44k 16% below VT |
$400,000±$105k 26% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$262,300±$30kLowest 17% below VT |
| Williston and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$215 7% below VT |
$1,271±$820 about the VT average |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
| Williston and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,924Lowest 22% below VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$5,055 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±21.3 VT: 48.4% |
29%±47.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Whitingham and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10% VT: 10.1% |
1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 40% above VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.3 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±16.4 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Pawlet 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 | — | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mettawee School District #84 | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 7.8 |
| 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.