What stands out worked out from the figures below

Massena has the most kids (19.4% 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	Massena	Peru
People
Population	10,238Highest	434Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-7.2% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	42.6±4.7Lowest 10% above U.S.	45.3±8.6Highest 16% above U.S.
	Peru and Massena are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22%	8.5%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	20.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21.4%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Peru and Massena are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	54.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Massena and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$51,458±$7kLowest 36% below U.S.	$151,875±$83kHighest 88% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$94,400±$15kLowest 72% below U.S.	$400,000±$105kHighest 20% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$722±$44Lowest 49% below U.S.	$1,271±$820Highest 10% below U.S.
	Peru and Massena are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,218Lowest 3% above U.S.	$5,000Highest 60% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.8%±11.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	29%±47.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Massena and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	24.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	55.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	79%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S.	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 32% below U.S.	28 minHighest 6% above U.S.
Work from home	5.2%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13.3%±16.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Peru and Massena 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.