What stands out worked out from the figures below

Peru has the most affordable homes ($141k median).

Cushing has the most expensive homes ($410k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Peru	Cushing
People
Population	1,501Highest	1,460Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6%	-2.1%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	48±7.6Lowest 7% above ME	48.8±7.7Highest 9% above ME
	Cushing and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.8%±4Highest ME: 18.1%	17.1%±4Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Peru and Cushing 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%	20.5%±0.9Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Peru and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.7%Lowest ME: 36.2%	38.4%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8%	3.4%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Peru and Cushing 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	$83,500±$19kHighest 12% above ME
	Cushing 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±$38kLowest 52% below ME	$409,800±$44kHighest 38% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$723±$16Lowest 37% below ME	$1,553±$376Highest 36% above ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,799Lowest 41% below ME	$3,944Highest 30% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4%	33.7%±19.6Highest ME: 48.4%
	Cushing 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%	7.7%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.2%Highest ME: 74.3%	84.7%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME	1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 18% above ME	23 minLowest 5% below ME
Work from home	9.2%±4Lowest ME: 15.9%	18.5%±6.3Highest ME: 15.9%
	Cushing and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 56	RSU 13
High school in town	None 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.