What stands out worked out from the figures below

Painted Post has the most kids (16.3% 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	Painted Post	Peru
People
Population	1,824Highest	434Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.3% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	45.7±5.2Highest 17% above U.S.	45.3±8.6Lowest 16% above U.S.
	Painted Post and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.3%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22%	8.5%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Painted Post and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.3%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21.4%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Peru and Painted Post are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	54.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Painted Post and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$62,891±$14kLowest 22% below U.S.	$151,875±$83kHighest 88% above U.S.
	Peru and Painted Post are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$155,900±$13kLowest 53% below U.S.	$400,000±$105kHighest 20% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$839±$281Lowest 41% below U.S.	$1,271±$820Highest 10% below U.S.
	Peru and Painted Post are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,442Highest 74% above U.S.	$5,000Lowest 60% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	63.4%±18.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	29%±47.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Painted Post and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	63.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	79%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1946Lowest 34 yrs older than U.S.	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 37% below U.S.	28 minHighest 6% above U.S.
Work from home	13.8%±8.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.3%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Painted Post and Peru 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.