What stands out worked out from the figures below

Peru has the most people working from home (9.2%).

Anson has the most renters (39.3% rent).

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	Anson
People
Population	1,501Highest	680Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.4%Highest ME: +2.6%	-9.6%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	48±7.6Highest 7% above ME	43.3±15.2Lowest 3% below ME
	Peru and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.8%±4Lowest ME: 18.1%	26.2%±5Highest ME: 18.1%
	Anson and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.7%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4%	8.2%±5.3Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.7%Highest ME: 36.2%	5.3%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8%	0%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Peru and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$66,827±$19kLowest 11% below ME	$87,770±$61kHighest 17% above ME
	Anson and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$141,300±$38kHighest 52% below ME	$100,400±$28kLowest 66% below ME
	Peru and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$723±$16Lowest 37% below ME	$914±$247Highest 20% below ME
	Anson and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,799Highest 41% below ME	$1,207Lowest 60% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4%	31.8%±37.5Highest ME: 48.4%
	Anson and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.2%Highest ME: 10.7%	8.7%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.2%Highest ME: 74.3%	60.7%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Highest 3 yrs older than ME	1950Lowest 27 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 18% above ME	31 minHighest 26% above ME
Work from home	9.2%±4Highest ME: 15.9%	0%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9%
Schools
School district	RSU 56	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

ME 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.