What stands out worked out from the figures below

Manheim has the most affordable homes ($119k median).

Peru has the most expensive homes ($203k median).

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	Manheim	Peru
People
Population	3,058Lowest	6,710Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-7.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-3.2%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	43.3±3.8Highest 9% above NY	40.7±3.6Lowest about the NY average
	Manheim and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.6%±5.2Highest NY: 20.5%	21.8%±3.4Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Manheim and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.7%±4Highest NY: 17.9%	15.4%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Manheim and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	18.3%Lowest NY: 40.2%	33.2%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±1.9Lowest NY: 7%	6.3%±5.4Highest NY: 7%
	Peru and Manheim are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$69,527±$21kLowest 19% below NY	$101,771±$22kHighest 18% above NY
	Peru and Manheim are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$118,500±$24kLowest 72% below NY	$203,200±$38kHighest 52% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$828±$87Lowest 49% below NY	$1,067±$173Highest 34% below NY
	Peru and Manheim are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,627Lowest 60% below NY	$4,357Highest 34% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.9%±16.2Lowest NY: 52.1%	54.8%±25.3Highest NY: 52.1%
	Peru and Manheim are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.6%Lowest NY: 14%	8.9%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.3%Lowest NY: 54.3%	82.7%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY	1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 22% below NY	21 minLowest 37% below NY
Work from home	9.4%±5.5Lowest NY: 14.9%	10.2%±4.7Highest NY: 14.9%
	Peru and Manheim 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	#238 of 484 in NY	#347 of 484 in NY
School district	DOLGEVILLE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	PERU CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	JAMES A GREEN JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL	PERU HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	10.5Lowest	11.7Highest
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.