What stands out worked out from the figures below

Peru has the most kids (16.3% under 18).

Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).

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	Worcester
People
Population	630Lowest	831Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	52.6±4.8Highest 35% above U.S.	47±2.7Lowest 21% above U.S.
	Peru and Worcester 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%	12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Peru and Worcester 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%	19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	53%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Worcester 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.	$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S.
	Peru and Worcester 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.	$271,100±$27kHighest 19% below U.S.
	Worcester and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,023±$136 28% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,805Lowest 22% above U.S.	$4,421Highest 42% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	25.5%±37Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Worcester 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%	5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	85.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 18% above U.S.	29 minLowest 9% above U.S.
Work from home	10.3%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
School district	—	Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
High school in town	—	None in town
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.