Compare towns

Peru vs Jackson vs Windham 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).
Jackson has the oldest population (median age 56.9).
Windham has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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.

MeasurePeruJacksonWindhamWestminster
People
Population
434Lowest
1,695Highest
594
497
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-4.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
Median age
45.3±8.6
16% above U.S.
56.9±3.6Highest
46% above U.S.
44.2±7.4
14% above U.S.
43.3±11.5Lowest
11% above U.S.
Jackson 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%
14.6%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
17.5%±7.9
U.S.: 22%
28.4%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
Westminster and Windham 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%
33.4%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
23.2%±8.1
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±11.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Jackson and Windham 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
U.S.: 35.7%
32.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
45.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.8%±3.2
U.S.: 6.4%
1.8%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
0.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.2%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Westminster and Peru 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.
$77,375±$8kLowest
4% below U.S.
$94,500±$12k
17% above U.S.
$81,000±$22k
about the U.S. average
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
20% above U.S.
$235,400±$40kLowest
29% below U.S.
$353,900±$20k
6% above U.S.
$313,600±$39k
6% below U.S.
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
10% below U.S.
$1,139±$43
19% below U.S.
—
$749±$315Lowest
47% below U.S.
Peru and Jackson 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.
$4,165Lowest
34% above U.S.
$5,951Highest
91% above U.S.
$4,480
44% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
29%±47.8
U.S.: 51.1%
77.8%±44.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.2%±94
U.S.: 51.1%
6.1%±43.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Jackson and Windham 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%
7.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
9.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
91.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
80.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
6% above U.S.
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
30 min
13% above U.S.
Work from home
13.3%±16.4
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.5%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
23.1%±15.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Westminster and Windham 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
On TownTapestry
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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.