What stands out worked out from the figures below

Perham has the most affordable homes ($118k median).

Peru has the most expensive homes ($141k 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	Perham	Peru
People
Population	326Lowest	1,501Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-3.4% ME: +2.6%
Median age	53±12.9Highest 18% above ME	48±7.6Lowest 7% above ME
	Perham and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.6%±8.5Lowest ME: 18.1%	20.8%±4Highest ME: 18.1%
	Peru and Perham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.5%±2.3Highest ME: 22.4%	21.7%±3.8Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Perham and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	18.7%Lowest ME: 36.2%	21.7%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8%	3.5%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8%
	Peru and Perham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$62,500±$22kLowest 16% below ME	$66,827±$19kHighest 11% below ME
	Peru and Perham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$117,600±$9kLowest 60% below ME	$141,300±$38kHighest 52% below ME
	Peru and Perham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$723±$16 37% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,641Lowest 46% below ME	$1,799Highest 41% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.3%±100Highest ME: 48.4%	21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Perham and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.5%Lowest ME: 10.7%	9.2%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.5%Highest ME: 74.3%	90.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 1 yr older than ME	1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest about the ME average	29 minHighest 18% above ME
Work from home	8.4%±7.2Lowest ME: 15.9%	9.2%±4Highest ME: 15.9%
	Peru and Perham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	RSU 56
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

ME 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.