Compare towns
Peru vs Ware vs Florida vs Rowe
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%).
Ware has the most people working from home (16.6%).
Florida has the oldest population (median age 56.1).
Rowe has the most expensive homes ($275k 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 | Ware | Florida | Rowe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 630 |
6,369Highest |
668 |
453Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9% MA: +7.4% |
+1.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8 32% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
56.1±4.4Highest 40% above MA |
48.9±6.4 22% 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% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
11.5%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23%±5 MA: 19.4% |
| Ware 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 MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
30.2%±8.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Rowe and Florida 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% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24.3% MA: 47.3% |
26.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2 MA: 7.9% |
| Florida and Ware 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 |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$86,875±$17k 16% below MA |
$69,583±$13k 33% below MA |
| 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 52% below MA |
$253,400±$31k 55% below MA |
$246,800±$19kLowest 56% below MA |
$275,000±$41kHighest 51% below MA |
| Rowe and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,039±$104 41% below MA |
$867±$256Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,313±$576Highest 25% below MA |
| Rowe and Ware 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 |
$3,408 43% below MA |
$1,894 68% below MA |
$1,458Lowest 76% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
16.7%±100 MA: 51.8% |
11.8%±100 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware 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% |
14.1% MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
15.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.3% MA: 62.5% |
90.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
27 min 9% below MA |
26 minLowest 10% below MA |
36 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.3%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.4%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
7.2%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Ware 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 | — | #267 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | — | Florida | Rowe |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.