Compare towns
Peru vs Shelburne vs Windham vs Westminster
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).
Shelburne has the most expensive homes ($588k median).
Windham has the most homeowners (82.9%).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
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 | Shelburne | Windham | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 434Lowest |
7,969Highest |
594 |
497 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +8% VT: +2.8% |
— | — |
| Median age | 45.3±8.6 5% above VT |
50.9±3.2Highest 18% above VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
43.3±11.5Lowest about the VT average |
| Shelburne 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% |
20.2%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Shelburne 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% |
29.2%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Shelburne 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% |
70.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
45.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
4.7%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Shelburne 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 87% above VT |
$115,963±$16k 43% above VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$81,000±$22kLowest about the VT average |
| Peru and Shelburne 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 |
$588,100±$44kHighest 86% above VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$313,600±$39kLowest about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,271±$820 about the VT average |
$1,442±$589Highest 17% above VT |
— | $749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
| Shelburne 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 |
$8,173Highest 62% above VT |
$5,951 18% above VT |
$4,480Lowest 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29%±47.8 VT: 48.4% |
43.7%±10.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Shelburne and Windham 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% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
69.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 19% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±16.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
31.4%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Shelburne 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 | — | #8 of 70 in VT | — | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — | — |
| 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.