Compare towns
Peru vs Worcester vs Middlefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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%).
Middlefield has the most expensive homes ($333k 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 | Worcester | Middlefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 630 |
831Highest |
352Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-26.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8 35% above U.S. |
47±2.7Lowest 21% above U.S. |
56.9±3.7Highest 46% above U.S. |
| Middlefield and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
4.5%±9.5Lowest 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% |
28.7%±8.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Peru and Middlefield 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% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±4.8Lowest 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±$18k 12% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$103,750±$23kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Middlefield 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. |
$271,100±$27k 19% below U.S. |
$332,800±$48kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Middlefield and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$2,625±$1kHighest 86% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,805Lowest 22% above U.S. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
$4,926Highest 58% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Middlefield and Worcester 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.3%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.2%±9.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| 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 | 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.