Compare towns

Peru vs Colonie

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Peru has the most affordable homes ($203k median).
Colonie 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.

MeasurePeruColonie
People
Population
6,710Lowest
7,702Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.2%Lowest
NY: +4.2%
-0.2%Highest
NY: +4.2%
Median age
40.7±3.6Lowest
about the NY average
43.4±1.8Highest
9% above NY
Colonie and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.8%±3.4Highest
NY: 20.5%
20%±4.7Lowest
NY: 20.5%
Peru and Colonie 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%
20.9%±3.5Highest
NY: 17.9%
Colonie 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%Lowest
NY: 40.2%
35.7%Highest
NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.3%±5.4Lowest
NY: 7%
7.9%±3.3Highest
NY: 7%
Colonie 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±$22kLowest
18% above NY
$103,983±$6kHighest
21% above NY
Colonie and Peru 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
$285,400±$10kHighest
33% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,067±$173Lowest
34% below NY
$1,570±$157Highest
3% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,357Highest
34% below NY
$3,712Lowest
44% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.8%±25.3Highest
NY: 52.1%
35.3%±16.9Lowest
NY: 52.1%
Peru and Colonie are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.9%Highest
NY: 14%
7.5%Lowest
NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.7%Highest
NY: 54.3%
80.2%Lowest
NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Highest
17 yrs newer than NY
1965Lowest
6 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minHighest
37% below NY
17 minLowest
48% below NY
Work from home
10.2%±4.7Lowest
NY: 14.9%
15.7%±5.5Highest
NY: 14.9%
Colonie and Peru 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 —
School district PERU CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT —
High school in town PERU HIGH SCHOOL —
Students per teacherat that high school
11.7
—
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.