Compare towns
Jay vs Peru vs Black Brook
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
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).
Black Brook has the oldest population (median age 56.5).
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 | Jay | Peru | Black Brook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,354 |
6,710Highest |
1,315Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-3.2%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-2.9% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 48.8±4.6 23% above NY |
40.7±3.6Lowest about the NY average |
56.5±5.8Highest 42% above NY |
| Black Brook and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16%±4.1 NY: 20.5% |
21.8%±3.4Highest NY: 20.5% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest 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%±4.8 NY: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
36%±5.5Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4% NY: 40.2% |
33.2%Highest NY: 40.2% |
26.8%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.7Lowest NY: 7% |
6.3%±5.4Highest NY: 7% |
4.9%±3.8 NY: 7% |
| Peru and Black Brook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,380±$19k 16% below NY |
$101,771±$22kHighest 18% above NY |
$67,852±$20kLowest 21% below 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 |
$202,200±$48k 52% below NY |
| Peru and Black Brook 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±$173 34% below NY |
$783±$461Lowest 52% 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 | $3,741 43% below NY |
$4,357Highest 34% below NY |
$3,633Lowest 45% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.4%±21.1Lowest NY: 52.1% |
54.8%±25.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
46.9%±32 NY: 52.1% |
| Peru and Black Brook 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% |
7.5% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.4%Highest NY: 54.3% |
82.7%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
88.1% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY |
1976 17 yrs newer than NY |
1970Lowest 11 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 13% below NY |
21 minLowest 37% below NY |
32 minHighest 3% below NY |
| Work from home | 8.8%±3.2 NY: 14.9% |
10.2%±4.7Highest NY: 14.9% |
3.4%±2.8Lowest 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 | 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.