What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.8%).

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	Jay	Peru
People
Population	2,354Lowest	6,710Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.8%Highest NY: +4.2%	-3.2%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	48.8±4.6Highest 23% above NY	40.7±3.6Lowest about the NY average
	Jay and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16%±4.1Lowest NY: 20.5%	21.8%±3.4Highest NY: 20.5%
	Peru and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.3%±4.8Highest NY: 17.9%	15.4%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.4%Lowest NY: 40.2%	33.2%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.7%±1.7Lowest NY: 7%	6.3%±5.4Highest NY: 7%
	Peru and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$72,380±$19kLowest 16% below NY	$101,771±$22kHighest 18% above NY
	Peru and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$196,900±$22kLowest 54% below NY	$203,200±$38kHighest 52% below NY
	Peru and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,272±$366Highest 22% below NY	$1,067±$173Lowest 34% below NY
	Jay and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,741Lowest 43% below NY	$4,357Highest 34% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.4%±21.1Lowest NY: 52.1%	54.8%±25.3Highest NY: 52.1%
	Peru and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.7%Lowest NY: 14%	8.9%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.4%Highest NY: 54.3%	82.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY	1976Lowest 17 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 13% below NY	21 minLowest 37% below NY
Work from home	8.8%±3.2Lowest NY: 14.9%	10.2%±4.7Highest NY: 14.9%
	Peru and Jay 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	—	#347 of 484 in NY
School district	AUSABLE VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	PERU CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	None in town	PERU HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.7
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.