What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jackson has the most kids (14.6% under 18).

Peru has the highest household income ($152k).

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	1,695Highest	434Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.3% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	56.9±3.6Highest 46% above U.S.	45.3±8.6Lowest 16% above U.S.
	Jackson and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%	8.5%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Jackson and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	33.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	21.4%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	54.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4%	1.8%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,375±$8kLowest 4% below 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	$235,400±$40kLowest 29% below U.S.	$400,000±$105kHighest 20% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,139±$43Lowest 19% below U.S.	$1,271±$820Highest 10% below U.S.
	Peru and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,165Lowest 34% above U.S.	$5,000Highest 60% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	77.8%±44.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	29%±47.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Jackson and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 30% above U.S.	28 minLowest 6% above U.S.
Work from home	11.1%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13.3%±16.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Peru and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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.