Compare towns

Brookline vs Peru vs Windham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookline has the most homeowners (84.9%).
Peru has the most affordable homes ($203k median).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k median).

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.

MeasureBrooklinePeruWindham
People
Population
531Lowest
6,710Highest
594
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
45.1±2.7Highest
16% above U.S.
40.7±3.6Lowest
5% above U.S.
44.2±7.4
14% above U.S.
Brookline and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20%±6
U.S.: 22%
21.8%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.5%±7.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Peru and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.6%±4.2
U.S.: 17.2%
15.4%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
23.2%±8.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Windham and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
41.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
33.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
6.3%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
0.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Peru and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$80,833±$16kLowest
about the U.S. average
$101,771±$22kHighest
26% above U.S.
$94,500±$12k
17% above U.S.
Peru and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$290,700±$37k
13% below U.S.
$203,200±$38kLowest
39% below U.S.
$353,900±$20kHighest
6% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,732±$232Highest
23% above U.S.
$1,067±$173Lowest
24% below U.S.
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,000
60% above U.S.
$4,357Lowest
40% above U.S.
$5,951Highest
91% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.8%±94.7
U.S.: 51.1%
54.8%±25.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.2%±94Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Peru and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
9.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
8% above U.S.
21 minLowest
22% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
20.6%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.2%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.5%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Brookline and Windham 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 — #347 of 484 in NY —
School district — PERU CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT —
High school in town — PERU HIGH SCHOOL —
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.7
—
On TownTapestry
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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.