Compare towns
Florida vs Whately vs Peru
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 most affordable homes ($247k median).
Whately has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
Peru has the most homeowners (98.2%).
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 | Whately | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 668 |
1,499Highest |
630Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.1±4.4Highest 40% above MA |
49.3±6.7Lowest 23% above MA |
52.6±4.8 32% above MA |
| Florida and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.5%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Whately and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.1%±4.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
24.5%±6.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
29.7%±6.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Florida and Peru 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% |
47.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
28% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±2 MA: 7.9% |
| Florida and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,875±$17kLowest 16% below MA |
$116,563±$15kHighest 12% above MA |
$90,750±$18k 13% below MA |
| Whately 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 |
$431,500±$22kHighest 23% below MA |
$267,400±$15k 52% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $867±$256Lowest 51% below MA |
$977±$125Highest 45% below MA |
— |
| Whately and Florida are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,894Lowest 68% below MA |
$5,027Highest 16% below MA |
$3,805 36% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±100 MA: 51.8% |
26.7%±29Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Whately and Florida are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3% MA: 62.5% |
88.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 10% below MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 6.4%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.4%±8.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Whately and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Florida | Whately | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.

