Compare towns

Peru vs Old Bennington vs Windham

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 most renters (21% rent).
Old Bennington has the most people working from home (46.7%).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($354k 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.

MeasurePeruOld BenningtonWindham
People
Population
434
182Lowest
594Highest
Median age
45.3±8.6Highest
5% above VT
45±21.3
4% above VT
44.2±7.4Lowest
about the VT average
Peru and Old Bennington 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%
22.5%±12Highest
VT: 17.9%
17.5%±7.9
VT: 17.9%
Old Bennington and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.4%±5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
30.8%±8Highest
VT: 21.4%
23.2%±8.1
VT: 21.4%
Old Bennington 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%
VT: 43.8%
84.9%Highest
VT: 43.8%
48.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.8%±3.2Highest
VT: 7%
0%±7.8Lowest
VT: 7%
0.8%±1.1
VT: 7%
Peru and Windham 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
87% above VT
$168,750±$53kHighest
108% above VT
$94,500±$12kLowest
16% above VT
Old Bennington 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
26% above VT
$445,500±$105kHighest
41% above VT
$353,900±$20kLowest
12% above VT
Old Bennington and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,271±$820Highest
about the VT average
$1,063±$1kLowest
14% below VT
—
Peru and Old Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,000Lowest
about the VT average
$8,690Highest
72% above VT
$5,951
18% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
29%±47.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
40%±100
VT: 48.4%
41.2%±94Highest
VT: 48.4%
Windham and Old Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
1.8%
VT: 10.1%
0%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
9.9%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
93.8%Highest
VT: 73.2%
82.9%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981
5 yrs newer than VT
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1982Highest
6 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
19% above VT
28 minHighest
20% above VT
27 minLowest
14% above VT
Work from home
13.3%±16.4Lowest
VT: 16.9%
46.7%±3.9Highest
VT: 16.9%
20.5%±5.6
VT: 16.9%
On TownTapestry
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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.