Compare towns
Washington vs Peru vs Wells
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 people working from home (14.9%).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
Wells has the oldest housing (typical home built 1977).
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 | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,056 |
434Lowest |
1,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.9±5.1Highest 23% above VT |
45.3±8.6Lowest 5% above VT |
50.7±5.2 18% above VT |
| Washington and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Washington and Wells 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% |
24.5%±2.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wells 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% |
29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2 VT: 7% |
1.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Wells 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±$8kLowest 19% below VT |
$151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
$75,417±$11k 7% below VT |
| Peru and Wells 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 |
$243,000±$42k 23% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $996±$285Lowest 19% below VT |
$1,271±$820 about the VT average |
$1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
| Wells and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,485 31% below VT |
$5,000Highest about the VT average |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.5%±63.6 VT: 48.4% |
29%±47.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wells 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% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 31% above VT |
28 minLowest 19% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±5.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±16.4 VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest 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 | — | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| 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.