Compare towns
Windham vs Peru vs Ira
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the most kids (17.5% under 18).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
Ira has the most affordable homes ($273k 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.
| Measure | Windham | Peru | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 594Highest |
434 |
381Lowest |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
45.3±8.6 5% above VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
| Ira and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Windham and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
21.4%±5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ira and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.1% VT: 43.8% |
54.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
1.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5Highest VT: 7% |
| Ira and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% below 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 | $353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$400,000±$105kHighest 26% above VT |
$272,900±$18kLowest 14% below 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±$820Highest about the VT average |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
| Peru and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$4,146Lowest 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94Highest VT: 48.4% |
29%±47.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Windham and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.9% VT: 10.1% |
1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 14% above VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±16.4 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Windham and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| 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.