Compare towns
Windham vs Peru vs Salisbury vs Chester
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 people working from home (20.5%).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
Salisbury has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k 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 | Salisbury | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594 |
434Lowest |
1,200 |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +7.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
45.3±8.6 5% above VT |
50.6±6.5Highest 17% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
| Salisbury and Chester 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% |
16.6%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Windham and Salisbury 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% |
30.4%±2.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Salisbury and Chester 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% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
1.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.1 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Chester 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 |
$99,688±$21k 23% above VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Peru and Salisbury 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 |
$306,900±$51k 3% below VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% 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±$820 about the VT average |
$1,443±$984Highest 17% above VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Salisbury and Peru 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 |
$4,842 4% below VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94Highest VT: 48.4% |
29%±47.8 VT: 48.4% |
31.9%±22.6 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Windham and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.6% VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
28 minHighest 19% above VT |
19 minLowest 20% below VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±16.4 VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Windham and Chester 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 | — | — | — | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 8.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.