Compare towns
Peru vs Rupert vs Middlesex 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 highest household income ($152k).
Rupert has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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.
| Measure | Peru | Rupert | Middlesex | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 434Lowest |
676 |
1,943Highest |
594 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 45.3±8.6 5% above VT |
57.8±9.7Highest 34% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
| Rupert 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 VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±5 VT: 21.4% |
42.3%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.3% VT: 43.8% |
30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Rupert 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 87% above VT |
$88,229±$36kLowest 9% above VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
| Peru and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $400,000±$105kHighest 26% above VT |
$362,500±$63k 14% above VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$353,900±$20kLowest 12% above VT |
| Peru and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,271±$820Lowest about the VT average |
— | $1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
— |
| Middlesex and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 about the VT average |
$4,594Lowest 9% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,951 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29%±47.8 VT: 48.4% |
20%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Windham 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 VT: 10.1% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
3.8% VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.7% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 19% above VT |
27 minLowest 14% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
27 minLowest 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±16.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±9.2 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.