What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cushing has the most expensive homes ($410k median).

Peru has the most affordable homes ($141k 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	Cushing	Peru
People
Population	1,460Lowest	1,501Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.1%Highest ME: +2.6%	-3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	48.8±7.7Highest 9% above ME	48±7.6Lowest 7% above ME
	Cushing and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.1%±4Lowest ME: 18.1%	20.8%±4Highest ME: 18.1%
	Peru and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.5%±0.9Lowest ME: 22.4%	21.7%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4%
	Peru and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	38.4%Highest ME: 36.2%	21.7%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8%	3.5%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8%
	Peru and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$83,500±$19kHighest 12% above ME	$66,827±$19kLowest 11% below ME
	Cushing and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$409,800±$44kHighest 38% above ME	$141,300±$38kLowest 52% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,553±$376Highest 36% above ME	$723±$16Lowest 37% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,944Highest 30% above ME	$1,799Lowest 41% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.7%±19.6Highest ME: 48.4%	21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Cushing and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.7%Lowest ME: 10.7%	9.2%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.7%Lowest ME: 74.3%	90.2%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME	1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 5% below ME	29 minHighest 18% above ME
Work from home	18.5%±6.3Highest ME: 15.9%	9.2%±4Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Cushing and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 13	RSU 56
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

ME 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.