What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lincoln has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).

Peru has the most kids (21.8% under 18).

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	Lincoln	Peru
People
Population	1,394Lowest	6,710Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.7±3.6Highest 17% above U.S.	40.7±3.6Lowest 5% above U.S.
	Lincoln and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.8%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Peru and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.3%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	15.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	43.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	33.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.3%±5.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Peru and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$96,667±$18kLowest 20% above U.S.	$101,771±$22kHighest 26% above U.S.
	Peru and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$365,200±$30kHighest 10% above U.S.	$203,200±$38kLowest 39% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$870±$47Lowest 38% below U.S.	$1,067±$173Highest 24% below U.S.
	Peru and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,100Highest 96% above U.S.	$4,357Lowest 40% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.1%±25.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	54.8%±25.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Peru and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	82.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 12% above U.S.	21 minLowest 22% below U.S.
Work from home	18.8%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Lincoln and Peru 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	Lincoln Town 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

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.