Compare towns

Peru vs Plainfield vs Rowe

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Peru has the highest household income ($91k).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (16.4%).
Rowe has the most kids (23% under 18).

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.

MeasurePeruPlainfieldRowe
People
Population
630
1,314Highest
453Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
52.6±4.8Highest
35% above U.S.
48.1±5.5Lowest
24% above U.S.
48.9±6.4
26% above U.S.
Peru and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.3%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
16.3%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23%±5Highest
U.S.: 22%
Rowe and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
29.7%±6.9
U.S.: 17.2%
21.1%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
30.2%±8.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Rowe and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
28%
U.S.: 35.7%
48.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
26.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±2
U.S.: 6.4%
2.1%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.3%±2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Rowe 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
12% above U.S.
$69,250±$31kLowest
14% below U.S.
$69,583±$13k
14% below U.S.
Peru and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$267,400±$15kLowest
20% below U.S.
$318,400±$34kHighest
4% below U.S.
$275,000±$41k
17% below U.S.
Plainfield and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,153±$103Lowest
18% below U.S.
$1,313±$576Highest
7% below U.S.
Rowe and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,805
22% above U.S.
$4,806Highest
54% above U.S.
$1,458Lowest
53% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
73.2%±53.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
11.8%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
Plainfield and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
15.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
98.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1955Lowest
25 yrs older than U.S.
1959
21 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
18% above U.S.
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
36 minHighest
35% above U.S.
Work from home
10.3%±4.8
U.S.: 15.1%
16.4%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
7.2%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Plainfield and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — — Rowe
High school in town — — None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.