Compare towns

Peru vs Union vs Windham 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).
Union has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
Windham has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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.

MeasurePeruUnionWindhamWestminster
People
Population
434Lowest
2,663Highest
594
497
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+5.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
Median age
45.3±8.6Highest
16% above U.S.
41.6±5.3Lowest
7% above U.S.
44.2±7.4
14% above U.S.
43.3±11.5
11% above U.S.
Peru and Windham 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%
24.9%±4
U.S.: 22%
17.5%±7.9
U.S.: 22%
28.4%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
Westminster and Union 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%
21.4%±3.1
U.S.: 17.2%
23.2%±8.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±11.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Windham 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
U.S.: 35.7%
34.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
45.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.8%±3.2
U.S.: 6.4%
3.5%±1.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
0.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.2%±3.5
U.S.: 6.4%
Union 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.
$80,724±$9kLowest
about the U.S. average
$94,500±$12k
17% above U.S.
$81,000±$22k
about the U.S. average
Peru and Windham 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.
$267,600±$42kLowest
20% below U.S.
$353,900±$20k
6% above U.S.
$313,600±$39k
6% below U.S.
Peru and Windham 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.
$1,179±$452
17% below U.S.
—
$749±$315Lowest
47% below U.S.
Peru and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,000
60% above U.S.
$3,276Lowest
5% above U.S.
$5,951Highest
91% above U.S.
$4,480
44% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
29%±47.8
U.S.: 51.1%
24.6%±19.8
U.S.: 51.1%
41.2%±94Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
6.1%±43.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
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
U.S.: 12.5%
10.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
9.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
80.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
6% above U.S.
29 min
11% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
30 minHighest
13% above U.S.
Work from home
13.3%±16.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.9%±5.3
U.S.: 15.1%
20.5%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
23.1%±15.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Westminster and Windham 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 — RSU 40/MSAD 40 — —
High school in town — None in town — —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.