Compare towns

Peru vs Berlin 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).
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Westminster has the most people working from home (23.1%).

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.

MeasurePeruBerlinWestminster
People
Population
434Lowest
2,880Highest
497
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-1.3%
VT: +2.8%
—
Median age
45.3±8.6
5% above VT
50.6±2.4Highest
17% above VT
43.3±11.5Lowest
about the VT average
Berlin 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%
16.6%±4.2
VT: 17.9%
28.4%±7.1Highest
VT: 17.9%
Age 65+
21.4%±5
VT: 21.4%
26.8%±4.4Highest
VT: 21.4%
19.7%±11.4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Berlin 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%
28.5%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
45.4%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.8%±3.2Lowest
VT: 7%
3.9%±2.9Highest
VT: 7%
2.2%±3.5
VT: 7%
Berlin 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
$86,691±$21k
7% above VT
$81,000±$22kLowest
about the VT average
Peru and Berlin 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
$273,600±$31kLowest
14% 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
$1,169±$171
5% below VT
$749±$315Lowest
39% below VT
Peru and Berlin 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
$4,418Lowest
12% below VT
$4,480
11% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
29%±47.8
VT: 48.4%
41%±19.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
6.1%±43.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Berlin 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%
10.9%Highest
VT: 10.1%
2.2%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
87.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
80.1%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Highest
5 yrs newer than VT
1979
3 yrs newer than VT
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
19% above VT
21 minLowest
10% below VT
30 minHighest
26% above VT
Work from home
13.3%±16.4
VT: 16.9%
11.7%±3.8Lowest
VT: 16.9%
23.1%±15.9Highest
VT: 16.9%
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 — #16 of 70 in VT #53 of 70 in VT
School district — Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 —
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.