Compare towns
Peru vs Highgate vs Dorset vs Westminster
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).
Highgate has the most affordable homes ($281k 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 | Highgate | Dorset | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 434Lowest |
3,528Highest |
2,092 |
497 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 45.3±8.6 5% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
45.9±7.5Highest 6% above VT |
43.3±11.5Lowest about the VT average |
| 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% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5 VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| 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 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate 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% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Dorset and Highgate 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 |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$111,250±$40k 37% above VT |
$81,000±$22kLowest about the VT 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 26% above VT |
$280,500±$21kLowest 11% below VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$313,600±$39k about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,271±$820 about the VT average |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
$1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
$749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
| 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 about the VT average |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$4,480 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29%±47.8 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 19% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
22 minLowest 8% below VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±16.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | — | #43 of 70 in VT | — | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | — |
| High school in town | — | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— | — |
| 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.