Compare towns

Peru vs Castleton vs Corning 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 most people working from home (10.2%).
Castleton has the most expensive homes ($225k median).
Corning has the most kids (24.8% under 18).
Au Sable has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.2%).

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.

MeasurePeruCastletonCorningAu Sable
People
Population
6,710Highest
4,453
5,829
3,156Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.7±3.6
5% above U.S.
38.3±4.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
41.6±3.6
7% above U.S.
45.4±8Highest
17% above U.S.
Au Sable and Corning 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%
18.8%±6.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
24.8%±4Highest
U.S.: 22%
20.3%±7.7
U.S.: 22%
Corning 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%
20.7%±4.6
U.S.: 17.2%
22.1%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.2%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Corning and Castleton 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%
37.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
38%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%
19.3%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.7%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±3.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$101,771±$22kHighest
26% above U.S.
$73,854±$23kLowest
9% below U.S.
$88,482±$10k
10% above U.S.
$95,069±$36k
18% above U.S.
Peru and Au Sable 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.
$224,800±$71kHighest
32% below U.S.
$167,600±$14k
50% below U.S.
$133,000±$43kLowest
60% below U.S.
Castleton and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,067±$173Lowest
24% below U.S.
$1,137±$195
20% below U.S.
$1,289±$219Highest
9% below U.S.
$1,074±$328
24% below U.S.
Corning and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,357Highest
40% above U.S.
$3,167Lowest
about the U.S. average
$3,895
25% above U.S.
$3,242
4% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.8%±25.3
U.S.: 51.1%
67.7%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
39.1%±15Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.3%±23
U.S.: 51.1%
Castleton and Peru 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%
12.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
79%
U.S.: 65.2%
86%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
76.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
1960Lowest
20 yrs older than U.S.
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 min
22% below U.S.
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
20 min
23% below U.S.
26 minHighest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
10.2%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.2%±3.9
U.S.: 15.1%
8.3%±3.1
U.S.: 15.1%
3.4%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Peru and Corning 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 #39 of 70 in VT #393 of 484 in NY #248 of 484 in NY
School district PERU CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 CORNING CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT AUSABLE VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town PERU HIGH SCHOOL None in town CORNING PAINTED POST HIGH SCHOOL LEARNING CENTER AUSABLE VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school
11.7Highest
—
4.0Lowest
11.6
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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.