What stands out worked out from the figures below

Peru has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.2%).

Brownville has the most kids (25.5% under 18).

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	Brownville
People
Population	6,710Highest	5,797Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.2%Highest NY: +4.2%	-6.7%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	40.7±3.6Lowest about the NY average	41.1±4.4Highest 3% above NY
	Brownville and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.8%±3.4Lowest NY: 20.5%	25.5%±4.4Highest NY: 20.5%
	Brownville and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.4%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9%	20.1%±3.9Highest NY: 17.9%
	Brownville and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	33.2%Highest NY: 40.2%	30.2%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.3%±5.4Highest NY: 7%	2.2%±1Lowest NY: 7%
	Peru and Brownville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$101,771±$22kHighest 18% above NY	$88,071±$11kLowest about the NY average
	Peru and Brownville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$203,200±$38kLowest 52% below NY	$211,700±$15kHighest 50% below NY
	Brownville and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,067±$173Highest 34% below NY	$783±$115Lowest 52% below NY
	Peru and Brownville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,357Highest 34% below NY	$3,003Lowest 54% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.8%±25.3Highest NY: 52.1%	50.8%±38.9Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Peru and Brownville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.9%Lowest NY: 14%	10.3%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%	84.8%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 17 yrs newer than NY	1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 37% below NY	25 minHighest 24% below NY
Work from home	10.2%±4.7Highest NY: 14.9%	9.3%±5.3Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Peru and Brownville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#347 of 484 in NY	#348 of 484 in NY
School district	PERU CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	GENERAL BROWN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	PERU HIGH SCHOOL	GENERAL BROWN JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	11.7Lowest	14.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

NY 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.