Compare towns

Peru vs Wardsboro vs Windham

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).
Wardsboro has the most affordable homes ($299k median).
Windham has the most people working from home (20.5%).

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.

MeasurePeruWardsboroWindham
People
Population
434Lowest
820Highest
594
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-3.4%
VT: +2.8%
—
Median age
45.3±8.6
5% above VT
51.6±7.3Highest
20% above VT
44.2±7.4Lowest
about the VT average
Wardsboro 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%
18.8%±6.5Highest
VT: 17.9%
17.5%±7.9
VT: 17.9%
Wardsboro and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.4%±5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
27.4%±3.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
23.2%±8.1
VT: 21.4%
Wardsboro 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%Highest
VT: 43.8%
38.9%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
48.1%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.8%±3.2Highest
VT: 7%
0.9%±0.9
VT: 7%
0.8%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
Peru and Wardsboro 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
$62,000±$6kLowest
24% below VT
$94,500±$12k
16% above VT
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
26% above VT
$299,300±$47kLowest
5% below VT
$353,900±$20k
12% above VT
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±$820Lowest
about the VT average
$1,479±$224Highest
20% above VT
—
Wardsboro 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
$4,345Lowest
14% below VT
$5,951Highest
18% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
29%±47.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
54.5%±58Highest
VT: 48.4%
41.2%±94
VT: 48.4%
Wardsboro 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%
7.7%
VT: 10.1%
9.9%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
90.4%Highest
VT: 73.2%
82.9%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981
5 yrs newer than VT
1978Lowest
2 yrs newer than VT
1982Highest
6 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
19% above VT
27 minLowest
14% above VT
27 min
14% above VT
Work from home
13.3%±16.4Lowest
VT: 16.9%
13.3%±5.1Lowest
VT: 16.9%
20.5%±5.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
Windham and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — River Valleys Unified School District #73 —
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.