What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jackson has the most expensive homes ($719k median).

Peru has the most kids (8.5% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Jackson	Peru
People
Population	897Highest	434Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+26% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	60.5±2.5Highest 56% above U.S.	45.3±8.6Lowest 16% above U.S.
Kids under 18	4.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	8.5%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Peru and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	28.4%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	21.4%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Jackson and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	67.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	54.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Jackson and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$117,986±$46kLowest 46% above U.S.	$151,875±$83kHighest 88% above U.S.
	Peru and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$719,300±$109kHighest 116% above U.S.	$400,000±$105kLowest 20% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,750±$1kHighest 24% above U.S.	$1,271±$820Lowest 10% below U.S.
	Jackson and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,001Highest 92% above U.S.	$5,000Lowest 60% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	21.1%±59.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	29%±47.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Peru and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest same as U.S.	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 30% below U.S.	28 minHighest 6% above U.S.
Work from home	22.2%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.3%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Jackson and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Jackson School District	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.