What stands out worked out from the figures below

Erwin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.7%).

Peru has the most homeowners (82.7%).

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	Erwin	Peru
People
Population	7,965Highest	6,710Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.7%Highest NY: +4.2%	-3.2%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	43.8±2Highest 10% above NY	40.7±3.6Lowest about the NY average
	Erwin and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.7%±3.7Lowest NY: 20.5%	21.8%±3.4Highest NY: 20.5%
	Peru and Erwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.4%±2.8Highest NY: 17.9%	15.4%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Erwin and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	49.2%Highest NY: 40.2%	33.2%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1.9Lowest NY: 7%	6.3%±5.4Highest NY: 7%
	Peru and Erwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$88,333±$16kLowest about the NY average	$101,771±$22kHighest 18% above NY
	Peru and Erwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$223,700±$26kHighest 47% below NY	$203,200±$38kLowest 52% below NY
	Erwin and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,271±$136Highest 22% below NY	$1,067±$173Lowest 34% below NY
	Erwin and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,829Highest 11% below NY	$4,357Lowest 34% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.8%±14Highest NY: 52.1%	54.8%±25.3Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Erwin and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.3%Highest NY: 14%	8.9%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.2%Lowest NY: 54.3%	82.7%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY	1976Lowest 17 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	15 minLowest 54% below NY	21 minHighest 37% below NY
Work from home	9.5%±4.3Lowest NY: 14.9%	10.2%±4.7Highest NY: 14.9%
	Peru and Erwin 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	#431 of 484 in NY	#347 of 484 in NY
School district	CORNING CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	PERU CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	None in town	PERU HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.7
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.