Compare towns
Peru vs Jay vs Williamson
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).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Williamson has the most affordable homes ($193k 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 | Jay | Williamson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,710 |
471Lowest |
6,823Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±3.6Lowest 5% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
40.9±4.2 5% above U.S. |
| Jay and Williamson 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% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Peru and Williamson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williamson and Jay 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±5.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Peru and Williamson 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. |
$74,792±$25kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$90,515±$14k 12% above U.S. |
| Peru and Williamson 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. |
$234,200±$45kHighest 30% below U.S. |
$192,700±$18kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Jay 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 24% below U.S. |
— | $659±$304Lowest 53% below U.S. |
| Peru and Williamson 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. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$5,172Highest 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.8%±25.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.1%±12.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Peru and Jay 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% |
8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Williamson 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 | — | #221 of 484 in NY |
| School district | PERU CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | WILLIAMSON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | PERU HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | WILLIAMSON SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Highest |
— | 8.3Lowest |
| 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.