What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mansfield has the most kids (15.1% under 18).

Peru has the most expensive homes ($400k 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	Mansfield	Peru
People
Population	691Highest	434Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.3% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	54±5.5Highest 39% above U.S.	45.3±8.6Lowest 16% above U.S.
	Mansfield and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22%	8.5%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Mansfield and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21.4%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Peru and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	22.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	54.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Mansfield and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$83,304±$14kLowest 3% above U.S.	$151,875±$83kHighest 88% above U.S.
	Peru and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$200,000±$29kLowest 40% below U.S.	$400,000±$105kHighest 20% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,271±$820 10% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,122Lowest 32% above U.S.	$5,000Highest 60% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	29%±47.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Peru and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981 1 yr newer than U.S.	1981 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 3% below U.S.	28 minHighest 6% above U.S.
Work from home	12.1%±12.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13.3%±16.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Peru and Mansfield 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.