Compare towns
Peru vs Reading vs Colonie
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 most affordable homes ($203k median).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Colonie has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Reading | Colonie |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,710 |
699Lowest |
7,702Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±3.6Lowest 5% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
43.4±1.8 12% above U.S. |
| Reading and Colonie 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% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±5.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$22k 26% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$103,983±$6kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| 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 39% below U.S. |
$377,200±$72kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$285,400±$10k 14% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,067±$173Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
$1,570±$157Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Colonie and Reading 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. |
$5,754Highest 84% above U.S. |
$3,712Lowest 19% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.8%±25.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
35.3%±16.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 22% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Colonie 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — |
| High school in town | PERU HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7 |
— | — |
| 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.