Compare towns
Peru vs Waterville 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).
Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Colonie has the most people working from home (15.7%).
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 | Waterville | Colonie |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,710 |
680Lowest |
7,702Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±3.6Lowest 5% above U.S. |
49.1±8.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
43.4±1.8 12% above U.S. |
| Waterville 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% |
20.4%±8.2 U.S.: 22% |
20%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Peru and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colonie and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±5.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.3Lowest 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. |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below 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. |
$236,300±$15k 29% below U.S. |
$285,400±$10kHighest 14% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,067±$173Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$1,110±$93 21% below U.S. |
$1,570±$157Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,357Highest 40% above U.S. |
$3,957 27% above U.S. |
$3,712Lowest 19% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.8%±25.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±27.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
35.3%±16.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Peru and Waterville 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% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 22% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.2%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Colonie 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 | — | — |
| School district | PERU CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | — |
| 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.