What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dummer has the most expensive homes ($242k 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	Dummer	Peru
People
Population	299Lowest	1,501Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-3.4% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S.	48±7.6Lowest 23% above U.S.
	Dummer and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.4%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.8%±4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Peru and Dummer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.4%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21.7%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Peru and Dummer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	16.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	21.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.5%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Peru and Dummer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$91,250±$21kHighest 13% above U.S.	$66,827±$19kLowest 17% below U.S.
	Dummer and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$242,200±$51kHighest 27% below U.S.	$141,300±$38kLowest 58% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$723±$16 49% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,898Highest 7% below U.S.	$1,799Lowest 42% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	21.7%±37.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Peru and Dummer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	9.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	90.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 5% below U.S.	29 minHighest 10% above U.S.
Work from home	6.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	9.2%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Peru and Dummer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	RSU 56
High school in town	—	None in town
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.