What stands out worked out from the figures below

Parma has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).

Peru has the highest household income ($102k).

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	Parma	Peru
People
Population	16,111Highest	6,710Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.7%Highest NY: +4.2%	-3.2%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	40.4±3.3Lowest about the NY average	40.7±3.6Highest about the NY average
	Peru and Parma are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	25.6%±3.3Highest NY: 20.5%	21.8%±3.4Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Parma and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.3%±2.1Highest NY: 17.9%	15.4%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Parma and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.9%Highest NY: 40.2%	33.2%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1.2Lowest NY: 7%	6.3%±5.4Highest NY: 7%
	Peru and Parma are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$93,558±$8kLowest 9% above NY	$101,771±$22kHighest 18% above NY
	Peru and Parma are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$220,000±$15kHighest 48% below NY	$203,200±$38kLowest 52% below NY
	Parma and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,216±$111Highest 25% below NY	$1,067±$173Lowest 34% below NY
	Parma and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,549Highest 16% below NY	$4,357Lowest 34% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.8%±15.2Lowest NY: 52.1%	54.8%±25.3Highest NY: 52.1%
	Peru and Parma are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.1%Lowest NY: 14%	8.9%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.3%Lowest NY: 54.3%	82.7%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976 17 yrs newer than NY	1976 17 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minHighest 32% below NY	21 minLowest 37% below NY
Work from home	10.3%±2.2Highest NY: 14.9%	10.2%±4.7Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Parma and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#88 of 484 in NY	#347 of 484 in NY
School district	HILTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	PERU CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	HILTON HIGH SCHOOL	PERU HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Highest	11.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

NY 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.