Compare towns
Peru vs Berlin vs Worcester vs Windham
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).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Windham has the most kids (17.5% 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 | Berlin | Worcester | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 434Lowest |
2,880Highest |
831 |
594 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 45.3±8.6 5% above VT |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
| Berlin and Worcester 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% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Windham and Berlin 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% |
26.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin and Windham 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% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Berlin 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 |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
| Peru and Windham 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±$31k 14% below VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
| Peru and Windham 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 |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% 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 | $5,000 about the VT average |
$4,418Lowest 12% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29%±47.8 VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Windham and Berlin 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% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 19% above VT |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±16.4 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Windham 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 | — | — |
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.