Compare towns
Peru vs Newfields 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 most renters (21% rent).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Dorset has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Newfields | Dorset | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 434Lowest |
2,023 |
2,092Highest |
497 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 45.3±8.6 16% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
43.3±11.5Lowest 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% |
18.9%±1.6 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% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±11.4 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% |
68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1%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% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields 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±$83k 88% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40k 38% above U.S. |
$81,000±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Newfields 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. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57k 71% above U.S. |
$313,600±$39kLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Newfields and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,271±$820 10% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
$749±$315Lowest 47% below U.S. |
| Newfields and Dorset 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,489 140% above U.S. |
$4,480Lowest 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29%±47.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Newfields 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% |
2.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 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. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.1%±15.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Newfields 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 | — | Newfields School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.