Compare towns
Peru vs Plainfield vs Rowe vs Washington
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 most homeowners (98.2%).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (16.4%).
Rowe has the most kids (23% under 18).
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 | Plainfield | Rowe | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 630 |
1,314Highest |
453Lowest |
526 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8 35% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5Lowest 24% above U.S. |
48.9±6.4 26% above U.S. |
56.5±7.7Highest 45% above U.S. |
| 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%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
23%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.3%±5.9Lowest 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%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.4%±1.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washington and Rowe 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% |
32.1% 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% |
2.3%±1.8 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±$18k 12% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$69,583±$13k 14% below U.S. |
$95,278±$12kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| 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 20% below U.S. |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$275,000±$41k 17% below U.S. |
$370,700±$32kHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Washington and Plainfield 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. |
$4,381 40% above 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% |
0%±100Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest 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% |
92.5% 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. |
1974 6 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. |
25 min 4% below 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% |
12.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and Washington 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 | 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.