What stands out worked out from the figures below

Aurelius has the most kids (20.1% under 18).

Peru has the most people working from home (13.3%).

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	Aurelius	Peru
People
Population	2,593Highest	434Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.5% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	49.1±4Highest 26% above U.S.	45.3±8.6Lowest 16% above U.S.
	Aurelius and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.1%±4Highest U.S.: 22%	8.5%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	25.7%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	21.4%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Aurelius and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	54.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Aurelius and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$94,079±$16kLowest 17% above U.S.	$151,875±$83kHighest 88% above U.S.
	Peru and Aurelius are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$167,000±$14kLowest 50% below U.S.	$400,000±$105kHighest 20% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$813±$200Lowest 42% below U.S.	$1,271±$820Highest 10% below U.S.
	Peru and Aurelius are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,516Lowest 13% above U.S.	$5,000Highest 60% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	29%±47.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Aurelius and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S.	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 30% below U.S.	28 minHighest 6% above U.S.
Work from home	4.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13.3%±16.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Peru and Aurelius are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.