Compare towns
Peru vs Chapman vs Union
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 highest household income ($152k).
Chapman has the most affordable homes ($186k median).
Union has the most people working from home (15.9%).
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 | Chapman | Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 434 |
388Lowest |
2,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±8.6 16% above U.S. |
45.7±11.4Highest 17% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Chapman and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 8.5%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Chapman and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chapman and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chapman and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $151,875±$83kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$93,125±$17k 15% above U.S. |
$80,724±$9kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Peru and Chapman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $400,000±$105kHighest 20% above U.S. |
$185,700±$22kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
| Peru and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,271±$820Highest 10% below U.S. |
— | $1,179±$452Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Peru and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000Highest 60% above U.S. |
$1,850Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29%±47.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Peru and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±16.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Union and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| 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.