Compare towns

Peru vs Williamson vs Worcester

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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Williamson has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.8%).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).

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.

MeasurePeruWilliamsonWorcester
People
Population
6,710
6,823Highest
831Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.7±3.6Lowest
5% above U.S.
40.9±4.2
5% above U.S.
47±2.7Highest
21% above U.S.
Worcester and Williamson 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%
19.6%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
12.8%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Peru and Williamson 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%
20.7%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.5%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Williamson and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
33.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
53%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.3%±5.4
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.9%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Worcester 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±$22kHighest
26% above U.S.
$90,515±$14k
12% above U.S.
$73,833±$18kLowest
9% below U.S.
Peru and Williamson 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.
$192,700±$18kLowest
42% below U.S.
$271,100±$27kHighest
19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,067±$173Highest
24% below U.S.
$659±$304Lowest
53% below U.S.
$1,023±$136
28% below U.S.
Peru and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,357Lowest
40% above U.S.
$5,172Highest
66% above U.S.
$4,421
42% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.8%±25.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
25.1%±12.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
25.5%±37
U.S.: 51.1%
Peru and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
22% below U.S.
25 min
7% below U.S.
29 minHighest
9% above U.S.
Work from home
10.2%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.2%±6.5
U.S.: 15.1%
23.6%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Worcester and Williamson 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 #221 of 484 in NY —
School district PERU CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT WILLIAMSON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
High school in town PERU HIGH SCHOOL WILLIAMSON SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
11.7Highest
8.3Lowest
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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.