Compare towns
Black Brook vs Erwin vs Jay vs Peru
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Black Brook has the oldest population (median age 56.5).
Erwin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.7%).
Jay has the most affordable homes ($197k median).
Peru has the highest household income ($102k).
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 | Black Brook | Erwin | Jay | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,315Lowest |
7,965Highest |
2,354 |
6,710 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9% NY: +4.2% |
+0.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-0.8% NY: +4.2% |
-3.2%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 56.5±5.8Highest 42% above NY |
43.8±2 10% above NY |
48.8±4.6 23% above NY |
40.7±3.6Lowest about the NY average |
| Black Brook and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.6%±3.3Lowest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±3.7 NY: 20.5% |
16%±4.1 NY: 20.5% |
21.8%±3.4Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Peru and Erwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 36%±5.5Highest NY: 17.9% |
17.4%±2.8 NY: 17.9% |
25.3%±4.8 NY: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.8%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
49.2%Highest NY: 40.2% |
31.4% NY: 40.2% |
33.2% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.8 NY: 7% |
4.3%±1.9 NY: 7% |
1.7%±1.7Lowest NY: 7% |
6.3%±5.4Highest NY: 7% |
| Peru and Black Brook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,852±$20kLowest 21% below NY |
$88,333±$16k about the NY average |
$72,380±$19k 16% below NY |
$101,771±$22kHighest 18% above NY |
| Peru and Erwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $202,200±$48k 52% below NY |
$223,700±$26kHighest 47% below NY |
$196,900±$22kLowest 54% below NY |
$203,200±$38k 52% below NY |
| Erwin and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $783±$461Lowest 52% below NY |
$1,271±$136 22% below NY |
$1,272±$366Highest 22% below NY |
$1,067±$173 34% below NY |
| Jay and Erwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,633Lowest 45% below NY |
$5,829Highest 11% below NY |
$3,741 43% below NY |
$4,357 34% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±32 NY: 52.1% |
56.8%±14Highest NY: 52.1% |
27.4%±21.1Lowest NY: 52.1% |
54.8%±25.3 NY: 52.1% |
| Erwin and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.5% NY: 14% |
9.3%Highest NY: 14% |
6.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
8.9% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.1% NY: 54.3% |
67.2%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
88.4%Highest NY: 54.3% |
82.7% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 11 yrs newer than NY |
1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY |
1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY |
1976 17 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 3% below NY |
15 minLowest 54% below NY |
28 min 13% below NY |
21 min 37% below NY |
| Work from home | 3.4%±2.8Lowest NY: 14.9% |
9.5%±4.3 NY: 14.9% |
8.8%±3.2 NY: 14.9% |
10.2%±4.7Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Peru and Erwin 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 | — | #431 of 484 in NY | — | #347 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | CORNING CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | AUSABLE VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | PERU CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | PERU HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NY 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.