What stands out worked out from the figures below

Busti has the most kids (19.9% under 18).

Peru has the most expensive homes ($400k 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.

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

Measure	Busti	Peru
People
Population	7,452Highest	434Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	46.6±4.8Highest 20% above U.S.	45.3±8.6Lowest 16% above U.S.
	Busti and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%	8.5%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	23.8%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	21.4%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Busti and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	54.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Busti and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$67,292±$9kLowest 17% below U.S.	$151,875±$83kHighest 88% above U.S.
	Peru and Busti are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$164,600±$12kLowest 51% below U.S.	$400,000±$105kHighest 20% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,085±$106Lowest 23% below U.S.	$1,271±$820Highest 10% below U.S.
	Peru and Busti are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,876Lowest 24% above U.S.	$5,000Highest 60% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.5%±13.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	29%±47.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Busti and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	79%Highest 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	21 minLowest 20% below U.S.	28 minHighest 6% above U.S.
Work from home	9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13.3%±16.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Peru and Busti 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.