Compare towns
Peru vs Plainfield vs Worcester vs Florida
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Florida has the most affordable homes ($247k 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 | Worcester | Florida |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 630Lowest |
1,314Highest |
831 |
668 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8 35% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5 24% above U.S. |
47±2.7Lowest 21% above U.S. |
56.1±4.4Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Florida 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 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±6.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.1%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Florida 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.3%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% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Florida 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. |
$73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
$86,875±$17k 8% above U.S. |
| Peru and Florida are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,400±$15k 20% below U.S. |
$318,400±$34kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$271,100±$27k 19% below U.S. |
$246,800±$19kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,153±$103Highest 18% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
$867±$256Lowest 39% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Worcester 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. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
$1,894Lowest 39% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Worcester 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10.3%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Florida |
| High school in town | — | — | None 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.