Compare towns
Peru vs Townsend vs Florida
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 homeowners (98.2%).
Townsend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
Florida has the shortest commute (26 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.
| Measure | Peru | Townsend | Florida |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 630Lowest |
9,100Highest |
668 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8 32% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
56.1±4.4Highest 40% above MA |
| 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%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
11.5%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Townsend 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% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±4.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Townsend 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±$18k 13% below MA |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
$86,875±$17kLowest 16% below MA |
| Townsend 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±$15k 52% below MA |
$433,200±$22kHighest 23% below MA |
$246,800±$19kLowest 56% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA |
$867±$256Lowest 51% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,805 36% below MA |
$6,031Highest about the MA average |
$1,894Lowest 68% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
16.7%±100 MA: 51.8% |
| Townsend and Florida are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
26 minLowest 10% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.3%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.4%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Townsend and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #136 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | North Middlesex | Florida |
| High school in town | — | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— |
| 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.