Compare towns
Peru vs Putnam 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).
Putnam has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Westminster has the most people working from home (23.1%).
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 | Putnam | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 434Lowest |
540Highest |
497 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 45.3±8.6 16% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
43.3±11.5Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Putnam 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% |
17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
28.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster and Putnam 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% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±11.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Putnam 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±$83kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$92,344±$14k 14% above U.S. |
$81,000±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Peru and Putnam 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. |
$266,200±$48kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$313,600±$39k 6% below U.S. |
| Peru and Westminster 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. |
— | $749±$315Lowest 47% below U.S. |
| Peru and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000Highest 60% above U.S. |
$3,674Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,480 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29%±47.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
6.1%±43.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Peru and Westminster 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% |
7.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±16.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.1%±15.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westminster and Peru 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 | — | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| 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.