Compare towns
Peru vs Hampton vs Dorset vs Westminster
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 highest household income ($152k).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Dorset has the most expensive homes ($569k median).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% 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 | Hampton | Dorset | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 434Lowest |
1,145 |
2,092Highest |
497 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 45.3±8.6 16% above U.S. |
43.1±14.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
43.3±11.5 11% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
15.9%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
28.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster and Dorset 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% |
20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±11.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorset 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% |
15.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hampton 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 88% above U.S. |
$73,796±$8kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$111,250±$40k 38% above U.S. |
$81,000±$22k about the U.S. average |
| 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 20% above U.S. |
$166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
$313,600±$39k 6% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,271±$820 10% below U.S. |
$1,264±$375 11% below U.S. |
$1,420±$296Highest about the U.S. average |
$749±$315Lowest 47% below U.S. |
| Dorset 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. |
$3,007Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$7,489Highest 140% above U.S. |
$4,480 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29%±47.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
13.2%±25.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
16.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±16.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±8.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.1%±15.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Westminster 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 | — | — | — | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | — | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | — |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | — |
| 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.