What stands out worked out from the figures below

Peru has the most affordable homes ($267k median).

Springfield has the most people working from home (16.7%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Peru	Springfield
People
Population	630Lowest	1,122Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	52.6±4.8Highest 35% above U.S.	51.4±8.8Lowest 32% above U.S.
	Peru and Springfield 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%	15.1%±8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Peru and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29.7%±6.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.8%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	36.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Peru and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$90,750±$18kLowest 12% above U.S.	$100,893±$19kHighest 25% above U.S.
	Springfield 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.	$384,100±$50kHighest 15% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,096±$217 22% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,805Lowest 22% above U.S.	$5,946Highest 91% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	25.9%±64.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Springfield 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%	3.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	90.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 18% above U.S.	34 minHighest 30% above U.S.
Work from home	10.3%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16.7%±11.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Springfield and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.