Compare towns

Peru vs Westminster vs Winhall

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).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
Winhall has the most expensive homes ($472k 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.

MeasurePeruWestminsterWinhall
People
Population
434Lowest
2,999Highest
752
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-5.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+53.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
45.3±8.6Lowest
5% above VT
53.5±3.7Highest
24% above VT
48.9±6.1
13% above VT
Westminster and Winhall 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%
18.2%±4.7Highest
VT: 17.9%
17%±6.8
VT: 17.9%
Westminster and Winhall 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%
27.6%±6.8Highest
VT: 21.4%
20.6%±5.3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Westminster 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%
46.3%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
67.4%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.8%±3.2Lowest
VT: 7%
4.4%±3.1Highest
VT: 7%
3.1%±4
VT: 7%
Westminster and Winhall 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
$71,491±$4kLowest
12% below VT
$95,500±$23k
18% above VT
Peru and Winhall 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
$273,800±$35kLowest
14% below VT
$471,800±$55kHighest
49% above VT
Winhall 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
$916±$126Lowest
26% below VT
$1,094±$732
11% below VT
Peru and Winhall 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
$4,063Lowest
19% below VT
$6,567Highest
30% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
29%±47.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
49.2%±7.5Highest
VT: 48.4%
37.5%±38.9
VT: 48.4%
Westminster and Winhall 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%
8.8%Highest
VT: 10.1%
5.3%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
88.2%Highest
VT: 73.2%
80.5%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981
5 yrs newer than VT
1980Lowest
4 yrs newer than VT
1982Highest
6 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
19% above VT
24 minLowest
about the VT average
27 min
13% above VT
Work from home
13.3%±16.4Lowest
VT: 16.9%
27%±6.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
18.4%±9
VT: 16.9%
Westminster and Winhall 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 — Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District —
High school in town — Bellows Falls Union High School —
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.6
—
On TownTapestry
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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.