Compare towns
Washington vs Peru vs Chelsea
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
Chelsea has the most kids (21.9% 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 | Washington | Peru | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,056 |
434Lowest |
1,223Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.9±5.1 23% above VT |
45.3±8.6Lowest 5% above VT |
54.1±12.1Highest 26% above VT |
| Chelsea and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Chelsea and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
21.4%±5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Chelsea and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31% VT: 43.8% |
54.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2 VT: 7% |
1.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
4.8%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Chelsea and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,103±$8k 19% below VT |
$151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
$65,913±$13kLowest 19% below VT |
| Peru and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$37kLowest 31% below VT |
$400,000±$105kHighest 26% above VT |
$260,900±$39k 18% below VT |
| Peru and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $996±$285Lowest 19% below VT |
$1,271±$820 about the VT average |
$1,524±$467Highest 24% above VT |
| Chelsea and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,485Lowest 31% below VT |
$5,000Highest about the VT average |
$3,762 25% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.5%±63.6 VT: 48.4% |
29%±47.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
66.3%±33.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Chelsea and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2% VT: 10.1% |
1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 31% above VT |
28 minLowest 19% above VT |
30 min 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±5.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±16.4 VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±7.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Washington and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | — | First Branch Unified School District #82 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.