What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lancaster has the most kids (17.8% 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	Lancaster	Peru
People
Population	10,113Highest	434Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.1% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	45.1±4.7Lowest 16% above U.S.	45.3±8.6Highest 16% above U.S.
	Peru and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22%	8.5%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Lancaster and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21.4%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Peru and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	54.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Lancaster and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$66,148±$7kLowest 18% below U.S.	$151,875±$83kHighest 88% above U.S.
	Peru and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$202,200±$16kLowest 39% below U.S.	$400,000±$105kHighest 20% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$969±$169Lowest 31% below U.S.	$1,271±$820Highest 10% below U.S.
	Peru and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,932Lowest 58% above U.S.	$5,000Highest 60% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52%±19Highest U.S.: 51.1%	29%±47.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lancaster and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	79%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S.	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 28% below U.S.	28 minHighest 6% above U.S.
Work from home	7%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13.3%±16.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Peru and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
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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.