What stands out worked out from the figures below

Peru has the highest household income ($91k).

Plainfield has the most people working from home (26.2%).

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	Peru	Plainfield
People
Population	630Highest	616Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%	-2.3%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	52.6±4.8Highest 32% above MA	50.6±9.5Lowest 27% above MA
	Peru and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.3%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4%	19%±9.3Highest MA: 19.4%
	Plainfield and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29.7%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9%	29.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Peru and Plainfield 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%	52.6%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±2Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9%
	Plainfield and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$90,750±$18kHighest 13% below MA	$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA
	Peru and Plainfield 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	$309,000±$47kHighest 45% below MA
	Plainfield and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,292±$558 27% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,805Lowest 36% below MA	$4,458Highest 26% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8%	40%±100Highest MA: 51.8%
	Plainfield and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.2%Lowest MA: 10%	16.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	98.2%Highest MA: 62.5%	98%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA	1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 7% above MA	38 minHighest 30% above MA
Work from home	10.3%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6%
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.