Compare towns

Peru vs Danby 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).
Danby has the most expensive homes ($272k median).
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.

MeasurePeruDanbyAu Sable
People
Population
6,710Highest
1,133Lowest
3,156
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.7±3.6Lowest
5% above U.S.
52.6±4.8Highest
35% above U.S.
45.4±8
17% above U.S.
Danby and Au Sable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.8%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.6%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.3%±7.7
U.S.: 22%
Peru and Au Sable 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%
24.3%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.2%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
33.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
34.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
19.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.3%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.5%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±3.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Peru and Au Sable 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.
$77,321±$13kLowest
4% below 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.
$272,400±$41kHighest
18% below U.S.
$133,000±$43kLowest
60% below U.S.
Danby and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,067±$173
24% below U.S.
$794±$166Lowest
44% below U.S.
$1,074±$328Highest
24% below U.S.
Au Sable and Peru 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.
$4,543Highest
46% above U.S.
$3,242Lowest
4% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.8%±25.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.4%±34.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.3%±23
U.S.: 51.1%
Peru and Au Sable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
9.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
12%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
89.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
76.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
22% below U.S.
30 minHighest
12% above U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
10.2%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
12.1%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
3.4%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Danby 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 — #248 of 484 in NY
School district PERU CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 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
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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.