Compare towns
Peru vs Strafford vs Corning
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 renters (17.3% rent).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
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 | Strafford | Corning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,710Highest |
1,372Lowest |
5,829 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±3.6Lowest 5% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
41.6±3.6 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
24.8%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Corning and Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±5.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Peru and Strafford 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. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$88,482±$10kLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Strafford 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±$38k 39% below U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$167,600±$14kLowest 50% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,067±$173Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
$1,289±$219Highest 9% below U.S. |
| Corning and Strafford 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. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$3,895Lowest 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.8%±25.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.1%±15Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Peru and Strafford 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% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 22% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 13% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.2%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strafford 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 | Strafford School District | 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 |
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.