Compare towns
Petersham vs Westminster vs Leyden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Petersham has the oldest population (median age 56.3).
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 | Petersham | Westminster | Leyden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,185Highest |
497Lowest |
637 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.3±2.7Highest 45% above U.S. |
43.3±11.5Lowest 11% above U.S. |
53.2±8.2 37% above U.S. |
| Petersham and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
28.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±11.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.6%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Petersham and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Petersham and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,750±$20kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$81,000±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$105,893±$13k 31% above U.S. |
| Petersham and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $392,400±$20kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$313,600±$39kLowest 6% below U.S. |
$372,900±$24k 12% above U.S. |
| Petersham and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,679±$441 19% above U.S. |
$749±$315Lowest 47% below U.S. |
$1,917±$451Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Leyden and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,636 49% above U.S. |
$4,480Lowest 44% above U.S. |
$4,651Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Leyden and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 13% above U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.1%±15.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westminster and Petersham 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 | Petersham | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.