Compare towns
Peru vs Dover vs Cavendish 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).
Dover has the oldest population (median age 53.5).
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Windham has the youngest population (median age 44.2).
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 | Dover | Cavendish | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 434Lowest |
1,466Highest |
1,242 |
594 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 45.3±8.6 5% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
45.2±5.9 5% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
| Dover 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% |
10.2%±5.7 VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±4.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Cavendish and Windham 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% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±2 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Cavendish 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% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
39.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cavendish and Dover 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 |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$89,063±$29k 10% above 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 |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$285,100±$40kLowest 10% 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 |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,000±$546 19% below VT |
— |
| Peru and Cavendish 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 |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$3,948Lowest 22% below VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29%±47.8 VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Windham and Dover 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% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
81.3% VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 19% above VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±16.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Dover and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | — |
| 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.