What stands out worked out from the figures below

Peru has the oldest population (median age 48).

Steuben has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.2%).

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	Steuben
People
Population	1,501Highest	1,388Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6%	-0.2%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	48±7.6Highest 7% above ME	40.1±8.5Lowest 10% below ME
	Peru and Steuben 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%	20.4%±5.4Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Peru and Steuben 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%	15.9%±1Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.7%Highest ME: 36.2%	18.9%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8%	5.2%±1.4Highest ME: 5.8%
	Steuben and Peru 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	$76,466±$4kHighest about the ME average
	Steuben 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	$173,900±$32kHighest 41% below ME
	Steuben and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$723±$16Highest 37% below ME	$678±$319Lowest 40% below ME
	Peru and Steuben are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,799Lowest 41% below ME	$2,029Highest 33% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4%	26.3%±87.8Highest ME: 48.4%
	Steuben 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%	5.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.2%Highest ME: 74.3%	89.4%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME	1979Highest 2 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 18% above ME	28 minLowest 14% above ME
Work from home	9.2%±4Lowest ME: 15.9%	11.8%±6.5Highest ME: 15.9%
	Steuben 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 24
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.