What stands out worked out from the figures below

Peru has the highest household income ($152k).

Jefferson 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Peru	Jefferson
People
Population	434Lowest	1,226Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-5.5% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.3±8.6Lowest 16% above U.S.	53.9±5.2Highest 39% above U.S.
	Jefferson 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%	12.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Jefferson and Peru 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%	30.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Jefferson 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%	29%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Peru and Jefferson 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.	$67,083±$9kLowest 17% below U.S.
	Peru and Jefferson 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.	$186,900±$42kLowest 44% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,271±$820 10% below U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,000Highest 60% above U.S.	$3,602Lowest 15% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29%±47.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Jefferson and Peru 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%	11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	94%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 6% above U.S.	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	13.3%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	23.6%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Jefferson and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.