What stands out worked out from the figures below

Otis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.4%).

Peru has the most affordable homes ($267k 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	Otis	Peru
People
Population	1,624Highest	630Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.4%Highest MA: +7.4%	-3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	51±3.2Lowest 28% above MA	52.6±4.8Highest 32% above MA
	Peru and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.1%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4%	16.3%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4%
	Peru and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	28%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9%	29.7%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9%
	Peru and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.2%Highest MA: 47.3%	28%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	3.2%±2Highest MA: 7.9%
	Peru and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$108,898±$6kHighest 5% above MA	$90,750±$18kLowest 13% below MA
	Otis and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$396,700±$40kHighest 29% below MA	$267,400±$15kLowest 52% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,318±$924 25% below MA	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,408Lowest 60% below MA	$3,805Highest 36% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	63.3%±100Highest MA: 51.8%	0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Otis and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	1.2%Lowest MA: 10%	3.2%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	98.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA	1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 15% above MA	31 minLowest 7% above MA
Work from home	22.3%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6%	10.3%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Otis and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Farmington River Reg	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

MA 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.