Compare towns
Peru vs Benson vs Westminster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
Benson has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
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 | Peru | Benson | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 434Lowest |
784Highest |
497 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -7.8% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 45.3±8.6 5% above VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
43.3±11.5Lowest about the VT average |
| Benson and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 8.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±5 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
$78,625±$8kLowest 3% below VT |
$81,000±$22k about the VT 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 | $400,000±$105kHighest 26% above VT |
$242,000±$26kLowest 24% below 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 | $1,271±$820Highest about the VT average |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
| Peru and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000Highest about the VT average |
$4,125Lowest 18% below VT |
$4,480 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29%±47.8 VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 19% above VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±16.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster and Benson 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 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| 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.