What stands out worked out from the figures below

Athens has the most expensive homes ($153k median).

Peru has the most people working from home (9.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Athens	Peru
People
Population	791Lowest	1,501Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.6%Lowest ME: +2.6%	-3.4%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	47.7±7.2Lowest 6% above ME	48±7.6Highest 7% above ME
	Peru and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.7%±5Highest ME: 18.1%	20.8%±4Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Athens and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.4%±2.7Highest ME: 22.4%	21.7%±3.8Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Athens and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	17.7%Lowest ME: 36.2%	21.7%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±2.5 ME: 5.8%	3.5%±1.9 ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$50,750±$14kLowest 32% below ME	$66,827±$19kHighest 11% below ME
	Peru and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$153,100±$33kHighest 48% below ME	$141,300±$38kLowest 52% below ME
	Athens and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$538±$457Lowest 53% below ME	$723±$16Highest 37% below ME
	Peru and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,355Lowest 55% below ME	$1,799Highest 41% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	100%±75.5Highest ME: 48.4%	21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Athens and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	23.3%Highest ME: 10.7%	9.2%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.6%Highest ME: 74.3%	90.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME	1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 18% above ME	29 minLowest 18% above ME
Work from home	6.1%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9%	9.2%±4Highest ME: 15.9%
	Peru and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Athens Public Schools	RSU 56
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

ME 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.