Compare towns
Worcester vs Peru vs Salisbury vs Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
Salisbury has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Windham has the most kids (17.5% 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 | Worcester | Peru | Salisbury | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831 |
434Lowest |
1,200Highest |
594 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +7.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
45.3±8.6 5% above VT |
50.6±6.5Highest 17% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
| Salisbury and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9Highest 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+ | 19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.4%±5 VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±2.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Salisbury and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53% VT: 43.8% |
54.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.1 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
$99,688±$21k 23% above VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above 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 | $271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$400,000±$105kHighest 26% above VT |
$306,900±$51k 3% below VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
| Peru and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,271±$820 about the VT average |
$1,443±$984Highest 17% above VT |
— |
| Salisbury and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$4,842 4% below VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
29%±47.8 VT: 48.4% |
31.9%±22.6 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Highest 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 | 5.9% VT: 10.1% |
1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.6% VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 22% above VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
19 minLowest 20% below VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±16.4 VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | — |
| 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.