What stands out worked out from the figures below

Peru has the highest household income ($102k).

Plattsburgh has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Peru	Plattsburgh
People
Population	6,710Lowest	11,830Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.2%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+0.1%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	40.7±3.6Lowest about the NY average	45.2±1.9Highest 14% above NY
	Plattsburgh 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%	19.7%±2.5Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Peru and Plattsburgh 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%	23.7%±2.7Highest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	33.2%Highest NY: 40.2%	27.6%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.3%±5.4Highest NY: 7%	3%±0.8Lowest NY: 7%
	Peru and Plattsburgh 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	$71,546±$5kLowest 17% below NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$203,200±$38kHighest 52% below NY	$179,900±$11kLowest 58% below NY
	Peru and Plattsburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,067±$173Highest 34% below NY	$1,053±$86Lowest 35% below NY
	Peru and Plattsburgh 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	$3,573Lowest 46% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.8%±25.3Highest NY: 52.1%	38.9%±12.5Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Peru and Plattsburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.9%Lowest NY: 14%	10.4%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.7%Highest NY: 54.3%	76.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 17 yrs newer than NY	1980Highest 21 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minHighest 37% below NY	19 minLowest 43% below NY
Work from home	10.2%±4.7Highest NY: 14.9%	7.6%±3.2Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Peru and Plattsburgh 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	#153 of 484 in NY
School district	PERU CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	BEEKMANTOWN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	PERU HIGH SCHOOL	None in town
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.