Compare towns
Peru vs Needham 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 oldest population (median age 45.3).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Westminster has the most affordable homes ($314k 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 | Needham | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 434Lowest |
32,459Highest |
497 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 45.3±8.6Highest 16% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
43.3±11.5 11% above U.S. |
| Peru and Westminster 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% |
27.5%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
28.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±11.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Peru and Westminster 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% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $151,875±$83k 88% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$81,000±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Needham and Peru 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. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$313,600±$39kLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,271±$820 10% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$749±$315Lowest 47% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 60% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,480Lowest 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29%±47.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham 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% |
3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.1%±15.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham 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 | — | #19 of 282 in MA | #53 of 70 in VT |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.