What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Somerville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.5%).

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	Somerville
People
Population	1,501Highest	837Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+9.5%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	48±7.6Highest 7% above ME	33.5±11.3Lowest 25% below ME
	Peru and Somerville 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%	28.8%±7Highest ME: 18.1%
	Somerville 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%	13.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.7%Lowest ME: 36.2%	25.7%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8%	1.8%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Peru and Somerville 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	$71,250±$15kHighest 5% below ME
	Somerville 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	$218,100±$41kHighest 26% below ME
	Somerville and Peru 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	$1,583±$265Highest 39% above ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,799Lowest 41% below ME	$2,505Highest 17% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4%	65.7%±58.5Highest ME: 48.4%
	Somerville and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.2%Lowest ME: 10.7%	17%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.2%Highest ME: 74.3%	85.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME	1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 18% above ME	27 minLowest 9% above ME
Work from home	9.2%±4Highest ME: 15.9%	3.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Peru and Somerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 56	RSU 12
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.