Compare towns
Peru vs Bow vs Westminster vs Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Peru has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
Bow has the most expensive homes ($507k median).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Windham has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Bow | Westminster | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 434Lowest |
8,335Highest |
497 |
594 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 45.3±8.6Highest 16% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43.3±11.5 11% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
| Peru and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 8.5%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
28.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±11.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windham 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow 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±$83k 88% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$81,000±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
| Bow and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $400,000±$105k 20% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$313,600±$39kLowest 6% below U.S. |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
| Bow and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,271±$820 10% below U.S. |
$1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
$749±$315Lowest 47% below U.S. |
— |
| Bow and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 60% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$4,480Lowest 44% above U.S. |
$5,951 91% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29%±47.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 13% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.3%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.1%±15.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westminster and Bow 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 | — | #26 of 120 in NH | #53 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Bow School District | — | — |
| High school in town | — | Bow High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.