Compare towns
Windham vs Peru vs Sandgate vs Townshend
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).
Sandgate has the most affordable homes ($194k median).
Townshend has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Sandgate | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594 |
434Lowest |
435 |
1,538Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | +4.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
45.3±8.6 5% above VT |
55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
55.6±9.6 29% above VT |
| Sandgate and Townshend 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% |
13.1%±7.5 VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Windham and Sandgate 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%±5 VT: 21.4% |
26%±11.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Sandgate 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% |
37.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
1.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8 VT: 7% |
| Sandgate 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 |
$69,167±$19kLowest 15% below VT |
$78,750±$29k 3% 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 |
$193,800±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
$287,200±$79k 9% 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 |
— | $1,074±$80Lowest 13% below VT |
| Peru and Townshend 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 |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$5,364 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
29%±47.8 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Windham 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% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
28 minHighest 19% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
25 minLowest 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±16.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | — | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | — | — | — | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 8.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.