What stands out worked out from the figures below

Durham has the most people working from home (13%).

Peru has the shortest commute (21 min average).

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	Durham	Peru
People
Population	2,641Lowest	6,710Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-3.2%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	48.8±5.1Highest 23% above NY	40.7±3.6Lowest about the NY average
	Durham and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.3%±5.2Lowest NY: 20.5%	21.8%±3.4Highest NY: 20.5%
	Peru and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.2%±7Highest NY: 17.9%	15.4%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Durham and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.3%Lowest NY: 40.2%	33.2%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±1.2Lowest NY: 7%	6.3%±5.4Highest NY: 7%
	Peru and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$81,471±$15kLowest 5% below NY	$101,771±$22kHighest 18% above NY
	Peru and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$245,300±$26kHighest 42% below NY	$203,200±$38kLowest 52% below NY
	Durham and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$994±$844Lowest 39% below NY	$1,067±$173Highest 34% below NY
	Peru and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,728Lowest 43% below NY	$4,357Highest 34% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	19.3%±40.8Lowest NY: 52.1%	54.8%±25.3Highest NY: 52.1%
	Peru and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.1%Lowest NY: 14%	8.9%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92%Highest NY: 54.3%	82.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976 17 yrs newer than NY	1976 17 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest about the NY average	21 minLowest 37% below NY
Work from home	13%±7.8Highest NY: 14.9%	10.2%±4.7Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Durham 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	#100 of 484 in NY	#347 of 484 in NY
School district	CAIRO-DURHAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	PERU CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	CAIRO-DURHAM HIGH SCHOOL	PERU HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	7.9Lowest	11.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

NY 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.