What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jefferson has the most people working from home (23.6%).

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	Jefferson	Peru
People
Population	1,226Highest	434Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.5% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	53.9±5.2Highest 39% above U.S.	45.3±8.6Lowest 16% above U.S.
	Jefferson and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22%	8.5%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Jefferson and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	21.4%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Jefferson and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	54.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	1.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Peru and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$67,083±$9kLowest 17% below U.S.	$151,875±$83kHighest 88% above U.S.
	Peru and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$186,900±$42kLowest 44% below U.S.	$400,000±$105kHighest 20% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,271±$820 10% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,602Lowest 15% above U.S.	$5,000Highest 60% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%	29%±47.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Jefferson and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.	28 minLowest 6% above U.S.
Work from home	23.6%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.3%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Jefferson and Peru 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.