What stands out worked out from the figures below

Newark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.5%).

Peru has the oldest population (median age 52.6).

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	Newark	Peru
People
Population	727Highest	630Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.4±6Lowest 6% above U.S.	52.6±4.8Highest 35% above U.S.
Kids under 18	22%±3Highest U.S.: 22%	16.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Newark and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.9%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	29.7%±6.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Peru and Newark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	28%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.6%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.2%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$72,929±$7kLowest 10% below U.S.	$90,750±$18kHighest 12% above U.S.
	Peru and Newark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$229,900±$23kLowest 31% below U.S.	$267,400±$15kHighest 20% below U.S.
	Peru and Newark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,708±$97 21% above U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,771Lowest 21% above U.S.	$3,805Highest 22% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	7.1%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Newark and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest same as U.S.	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 28% above U.S.	31 minLowest 18% above U.S.
Work from home	13.8%±8.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.3%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Newark and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64	—
High school in town	None in town	—
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.