Compare towns
Peru vs Calais vs Au Sable
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Peru has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Au Sable has the most affordable homes ($133k 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.
| Measure | Peru | Calais | Au Sable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,710Highest |
1,713Lowest |
3,156 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±3.6Lowest 5% above U.S. |
42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
45.4±8Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Au Sable and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Calais and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Calais 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±5.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Peru 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 26% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
$95,069±$36kLowest 18% above U.S. |
| Peru and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $203,200±$38k 39% below U.S. |
$390,300±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$133,000±$43kLowest 60% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,067±$173Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,074±$328 24% below U.S. |
| Calais and Au Sable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,357 40% above U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
$3,242Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.8%±25.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.3%±23Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Peru and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10.2%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
3.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #347 of 484 in NY | — | #248 of 484 in NY |
| School district | PERU CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | AUSABLE VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | PERU HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | AUSABLE VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Highest |
— | 11.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.