What stands out worked out from the figures below

Derby Line has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.1%).

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.

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

Measure	Derby Line	Peru
People
Population	783Lowest	6,710Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	46.7±13.3Highest 20% above U.S.	40.7±3.6Lowest 5% above U.S.
	Derby Line and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.6%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22%	21.8%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Derby Line and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	15.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Derby Line and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	33.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.3%±5.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Peru and Derby Line are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$71,518±$25kLowest 11% below U.S.	$101,771±$22kHighest 26% above U.S.
	Peru and Derby Line are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$201,000±$52kLowest 40% below U.S.	$203,200±$38kHighest 39% below U.S.
	Peru and Derby Line are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$835±$334Lowest 41% below U.S.	$1,067±$173Highest 24% below U.S.
	Peru and Derby Line are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,275Lowest 5% above U.S.	$4,357Highest 40% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	35.4%±24.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	54.8%±25.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Peru and Derby Line are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	82.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S.	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 8% below U.S.	21 minLowest 22% below U.S.
Work from home	13.5%±9.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Derby Line and Peru 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.