Compare towns
Peru vs Middlesex vs Corning
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.2%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (18.2%).
Corning has the most affordable homes ($168k 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 | Middlesex | Corning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,710Highest |
1,407Lowest |
5,829 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-7.9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.6% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 40.7±3.6Lowest about the NY average |
55.3±6Highest 39% above NY |
41.6±3.6 5% above NY |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.4 NY: 20.5% |
18%±3.8Lowest NY: 20.5% |
24.8%±4Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Corning and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
24.6%±3.1Highest NY: 17.9% |
22.1%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Corning are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.2% NY: 40.2% |
21.1%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
38%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±5.4Highest NY: 7% |
1.3%±1.3Lowest NY: 7% |
4.7%±1.2 NY: 7% |
| Peru and Corning 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 18% above NY |
$75,750±$21kLowest 12% below NY |
$88,482±$10k about the NY average |
| Peru and Corning are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $203,200±$38k 52% below NY |
$208,100±$62kHighest 51% below NY |
$167,600±$14kLowest 60% below NY |
| Middlesex 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 34% below NY |
$1,406±$672Highest 13% below NY |
$1,289±$219 20% below NY |
| Middlesex and Corning are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,357Highest 34% below NY |
$3,459Lowest 47% below NY |
$3,895 41% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.8%±25.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
29.1%±39Lowest NY: 52.1% |
39.1%±15 NY: 52.1% |
| Peru and Corning 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% |
5.8%Lowest NY: 14% |
8.2% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
90.1%Highest NY: 54.3% |
86% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY |
1974 15 yrs newer than NY |
1960Lowest 1 yr newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 37% below NY |
25 minHighest 22% below NY |
20 minLowest 38% below NY |
| Work from home | 10.2%±4.7 NY: 14.9% |
18.2%±6.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
8.3%±3.1Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | #393 of 484 in NY |
| School district | PERU CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | GORHAM-MIDDLESEX CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT (MARCUS WHITMAN) | CORNING CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | PERU HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | CORNING PAINTED POST HIGH SCHOOL LEARNING CENTER |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Highest |
— | 4.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.