Compare towns
Peru vs Calais vs Windham vs Dorset
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).
Calais has the youngest population (median age 42).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($354k median).
Dorset has the most expensive homes ($569k 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 | Peru | Calais | Windham | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 434Lowest |
1,713 |
594 |
2,092Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.3±8.6 5% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
45.9±7.5Highest 6% above VT |
| Dorset 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% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Windham and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.3% VT: 43.8% |
55.4% VT: 43.8% |
48.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Calais and Dorset 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 |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$94,500±$12kLowest 16% above VT |
$111,250±$40k 37% above VT |
| Peru and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $400,000±$105k 26% above VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
$353,900±$20kLowest 12% above VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,271±$820Lowest about the VT average |
$1,408±$392 14% above VT |
— | $1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
| Dorset and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000Lowest about the VT average |
$6,586 31% above VT |
$5,951 18% above VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29%±47.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Calais 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% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 19% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
22 minLowest 8% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±16.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.