Compare towns
Peru vs Sheldon vs Westminster vs Andover
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).
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
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 | Sheldon | Westminster | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 434Lowest |
2,267Highest |
497 |
616 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.5% VT: +2.8% |
— | — |
| Median age | 45.3±8.6 5% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
43.3±11.5 about the VT average |
49.2±5.1Highest 14% above VT |
| Andover 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% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.5%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Sheldon 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4 VT: 21.4% |
22.7%±4.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Andover 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
43.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5Highest VT: 7% |
| Andover 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 |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
$81,000±$22k about the VT average |
$102,500±$38k 26% above VT |
| Peru and Andover 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 |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
$313,600±$39k about the VT average |
$382,900±$68k 21% above VT |
| Peru and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,271±$820 about the VT average |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
$1,389±$364Highest 13% above VT |
| Andover and Sheldon 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 |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,480 11% below VT |
$5,190Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29%±47.8 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8 VT: 48.4% |
69.4%±47.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Andover 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% |
5.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.2% VT: 10.1% |
4.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.1% VT: 73.2% |
82.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 19% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±16.4 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9 VT: 16.9% |
29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Andover 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 | — | — | #53 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — | — |
| 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.