Compare towns
Peru vs Colrain vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Peru has the most kids (16.3% under 18).
Colrain has the most renters (13.5% rent).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($371k 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.
| Measure | Peru | Colrain | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 630 |
1,627Highest |
526Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8 32% above MA |
49.6±8.7Lowest 24% above MA |
56.5±7.7Highest 41% above MA |
| Washington and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±5.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Peru and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±6.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.4%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
35.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Washington and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
37.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
32.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Peru and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $90,750±$18k 13% below MA |
$80,673±$10kLowest 22% below MA |
$95,278±$12kHighest 8% below MA |
| Washington and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,400±$15kLowest 52% below MA |
$284,300±$14k 49% below MA |
$370,700±$32kHighest 34% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,102±$77 37% below MA |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,805Lowest 36% below MA |
$4,317 28% below MA |
$4,381Highest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46%±22.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Colrain and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2% MA: 10% |
7.2%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
25 minLowest 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.3%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±10.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Washington and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Mohawk Trail | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.