What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Sullivan has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.4%).

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	Sullivan
People
Population	1,501Highest	1,246Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6%	-1.4%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	48±7.6Highest 7% above ME	47.1±15Lowest 5% above ME
	Peru and Sullivan 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%	18%±5.2Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Peru and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.7%±3.8Lowest ME: 22.4%	22.5%±2.9Highest ME: 22.4%
	Sullivan and Peru 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%	26%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8%	5.1%±4Highest ME: 5.8%
	Sullivan 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±$19kHighest 11% below ME	$59,643±$14kLowest 20% below ME
	Peru and Sullivan 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	$222,000±$33kHighest 25% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$723±$16Lowest 37% below ME	$883±$114Highest 22% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,799Lowest 41% below ME	$2,228Highest 27% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4%	34.9%±23.6Highest ME: 48.4%
	Sullivan 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%	13.6%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.2%Highest ME: 74.3%	85.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME	1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 18% above ME	26 minLowest 7% above ME
Work from home	9.2%±4Lowest ME: 15.9%	12.6%±7.9Highest ME: 15.9%
	Sullivan 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	Sumner Memorial High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	10.5
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.