Compare towns
Peru vs Waltham 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).
Waltham has the oldest population (median age 60.8).
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 | Waltham | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 434Lowest |
452 |
497Highest |
| Median age | 45.3±8.6 5% above VT |
60.8±7.3Highest 41% above VT |
43.3±11.5Lowest about the VT average |
| Waltham 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% |
12.8%±7.4 VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±5 VT: 21.4% |
45.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Waltham 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 |
$97,500±$14k 20% above VT |
$81,000±$22kLowest about the VT average |
| Peru and Waltham 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 |
$329,700±$51k 4% above VT |
$313,600±$39kLowest about the VT average |
| Peru and Waltham 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 |
$1,096±$113 11% below VT |
$749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
| Peru and Waltham 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 |
$5,714Highest 13% above VT |
$4,480Lowest 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29%±47.8 VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±58.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Waltham 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% |
5.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.3%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 |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 19% above VT |
28 minLowest 18% above VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±16.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster and Waltham 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 |
| 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.