Compare towns
Florida vs Middlefield vs Peru vs Rowe
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Florida has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Middlefield has the most people working from home (13.2%).
Peru has the most homeowners (98.2%).
Rowe has the most kids (23% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Florida | Middlefield | Peru | Rowe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 668Highest |
352Lowest |
630 |
453 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.7% MA: +7.4% |
-26.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-3.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 56.1±4.4 40% above MA |
56.9±3.7Highest 42% above MA |
52.6±4.8 32% above MA |
48.9±6.4Lowest 22% above MA |
| Middlefield and Florida are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.5%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
4.5%±9.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
23%±5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Rowe and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.1%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
28.7%±8.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
29.7%±6.9 MA: 17.9% |
30.2%±8.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Rowe and Florida are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
31.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
28% MA: 47.3% |
26.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±2 MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2 MA: 7.9% |
| Florida and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,875±$17k 16% below MA |
$103,750±$23kHighest about the MA average |
$90,750±$18k 13% below MA |
$69,583±$13kLowest 33% below MA |
| Middlefield and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $246,800±$19kLowest 56% below MA |
$332,800±$48kHighest 41% below MA |
$267,400±$15k 52% below MA |
$275,000±$41k 51% below MA |
| Middlefield and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $867±$256Lowest 51% below MA |
$2,625±$1kHighest 49% above MA |
— | $1,313±$576 25% below MA |
| Middlefield and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,894 68% below MA |
$4,926Highest 18% below MA |
$3,805 36% below MA |
$1,458Lowest 76% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±100 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
11.8%±100 MA: 51.8% |
| Middlefield and Florida are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% MA: 10% |
12.2% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
15.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3% MA: 62.5% |
94.1% MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
90.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 10% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
31 min 7% above MA |
36 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 6.4%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.2%±9.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
7.2%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Middlefield and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Florida | — | — | Rowe |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.