What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gates has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.7%).

Peru has the highest household income ($102k).

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	Gates	Peru
People
Population	29,008Highest	6,710Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.7%Highest NY: +4.2%	-3.2%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	43.8±2.2Highest 10% above NY	40.7±3.6Lowest about the NY average
	Gates and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.3%±2.1Lowest NY: 20.5%	21.8%±3.4Highest NY: 20.5%
	Peru and Gates are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.3%±2.1Highest NY: 17.9%	15.4%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.5%Lowest NY: 40.2%	33.2%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±0.7Lowest NY: 7%	6.3%±5.4Highest NY: 7%
	Peru and Gates are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,080±$4kLowest 10% below NY	$101,771±$22kHighest 18% above NY
	Peru and Gates are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$170,500±$3kLowest 60% below NY	$203,200±$38kHighest 52% below NY
	Peru and Gates are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,196±$60Highest 26% below NY	$1,067±$173Lowest 34% below NY
	Gates and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,143Highest 22% below NY	$4,357Lowest 34% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.8%±6.5Lowest NY: 52.1%	54.8%±25.3Highest NY: 52.1%
	Peru and Gates are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11%Highest NY: 14%	8.9%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.8%Lowest NY: 54.3%	82.7%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Lowest 11 yrs newer than NY	1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 46% below NY	21 minHighest 37% below NY
Work from home	17%±3.2Highest NY: 14.9%	10.2%±4.7Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Gates 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	#324 of 484 in NY	#347 of 484 in NY
School district	GATES CHILI CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	PERU CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	GATES CHILI HIGH SCHOOL	PERU HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	11.0Lowest	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.