What stands out worked out from the figures below

Blandford has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.5%).

Peru has the most kids (16.3% 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.

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

Measure	Blandford	Peru
People
Population	1,156Highest	630Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.5%Highest MA: +7.4%	-3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	52.9±4.3Highest 32% above MA	52.6±4.8Lowest 32% above MA
	Blandford and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.1%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4%	16.3%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4%
	Peru and Blandford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30.8%±3.3Highest MA: 17.9%	29.7%±6.9Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Blandford and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.3%Highest MA: 47.3%	28%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	3.2%±2Highest MA: 7.9%
	Peru and Blandford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$91,902±$13kHighest 12% below MA	$90,750±$18kLowest 13% below MA
	Blandford and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$287,900±$18kHighest 49% below MA	$267,400±$15kLowest 52% below MA
	Blandford and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,047±$459 41% below MA	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,641Lowest 39% below MA	$3,805Highest 36% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29.4%±100Highest MA: 51.8%	0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Blandford and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.5%Highest MA: 10%	3.2%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%	98.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA	1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 22% above MA	31 minLowest 7% above MA
Work from home	12.8%±4.2Highest MA: 18.6%	10.3%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Blandford and Peru 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

MA 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.