Compare towns
Peru vs Rowe vs Sheldon
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).
Rowe has the oldest housing (typical home built 1959).
Sheldon has the most people working from home (13%).
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 | Rowe | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 630 |
453Lowest |
2,267Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -2.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8Highest 35% above U.S. |
48.9±6.4 26% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% 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% |
23%±5 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Rowe 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% |
30.2%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest 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. |
$69,583±$13kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
| Peru and Sheldon 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. |
$275,000±$41kHighest 17% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
| Rowe and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,313±$576Highest 7% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Rowe and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,805Highest 22% above U.S. |
$1,458Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$3,578 15% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.8%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rowe 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
15.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.3%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sheldon and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Rowe | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | — | None 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.