What stands out worked out from the figures below

Peru has the highest household income ($91k).

Whitingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1%).

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	Whitingham
People
Population	630Lowest	1,368Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	52.6±4.8Highest 35% above U.S.	46.4±7.1Lowest 19% above U.S.
	Peru and Whitingham 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%	19.8%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Whitingham and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29.7%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	31.1%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Whitingham 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	32.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Peru and Whitingham 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.	$70,625±$11kLowest 13% below U.S.
	Peru and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$267,400±$15kHighest 20% below U.S.	$262,300±$30kLowest 21% below U.S.
	Peru and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$673±$150 52% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,805Lowest 22% above U.S.	$5,055Highest 62% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	62.7%±47.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Whitingham 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%	15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	85.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 18% above U.S.	38 minHighest 44% above U.S.
Work from home	10.3%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9.7%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Peru and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	Twin Valley Unified School District #75
High school in town	—	Twin Valley Middle High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	7.8
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.