Compare towns
Peru vs Waitsfield 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).
Waitsfield has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Westminster has the most affordable homes ($314k 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 | Waitsfield | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 434Lowest |
1,918Highest |
497 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +7.3% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 45.3±8.6Highest 5% above VT |
44.3±5.3 about the VT average |
43.3±11.5Lowest about the VT average |
| Peru and Waitsfield 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% |
23.8%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Waitsfield 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% |
28.2%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Waitsfield 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% VT: 43.8% |
63.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
3.8%±3Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Waitsfield 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 |
$84,375±$34k 4% above VT |
$81,000±$22kLowest about the VT average |
| Peru and Waitsfield 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 |
$422,400±$92kHighest 33% above VT |
$313,600±$39kLowest about the VT average |
| Waitsfield and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,271±$820Highest about the VT average |
$1,200±$821 about the VT average |
$749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
| Peru and Waitsfield 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 |
$6,208Highest 23% above VT |
$4,480Lowest 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29%±47.8 VT: 48.4% |
47.4%±30.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Waitsfield 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 19% above VT |
25 minLowest 6% above VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±16.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster and Waitsfield 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 | — | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.