Compare towns

Peru vs Rowe vs Hinsdale

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 people working from home (10.3%).
Rowe has the most kids (23% under 18).
Hinsdale has the shortest commute (23 min average).

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.

MeasurePeruRoweHinsdale
People
Population
630
453Lowest
1,859Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.9%Highest
MA: +7.4%
—
-5.6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
52.6±4.8Highest
32% above MA
48.9±6.4
22% above MA
43.8±10.1Lowest
9% above MA
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%±3.5
MA: 19.4%
23%±5Highest
MA: 19.4%
15%±4.7Lowest
MA: 19.4%
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
MA: 17.9%
30.2%±8.1Highest
MA: 17.9%
22.3%±4.5Lowest
MA: 17.9%
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%Highest
MA: 47.3%
26.2%
MA: 47.3%
24%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±2Lowest
MA: 7.9%
3.3%±2
MA: 7.9%
8.1%±4.2Highest
MA: 7.9%
Hinsdale and Rowe 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
$69,583±$13kLowest
33% below MA
$77,845±$17k
25% below MA
Peru and Hinsdale 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
$275,000±$41kHighest
51% below MA
$267,600±$35k
52% below MA
Rowe and Hinsdale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,313±$576Highest
25% below MA
$1,109±$118Lowest
37% below MA
Rowe and Hinsdale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,805Highest
36% below MA
$1,458Lowest
76% below MA
$3,065
49% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
MA: 51.8%
11.8%±100
MA: 51.8%
38.3%±24.6Highest
MA: 51.8%
Hinsdale and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.2%
MA: 10%
15.8%Highest
MA: 10%
3.1%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
98.2%Highest
MA: 62.5%
90.8%
MA: 62.5%
78.8%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983Highest
19 yrs newer than MA
1959
5 yrs older than MA
1958Lowest
6 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
7% above MA
36 minHighest
22% above MA
23 minLowest
20% below MA
Work from home
10.3%±4.8Highest
MA: 18.6%
7.2%±3.8Lowest
MA: 18.6%
7.7%±4.1
MA: 18.6%
Peru and Hinsdale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Rowe Central Berkshire
High school in town — None 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.