What stands out worked out from the figures below

Peru has the most expensive homes ($400k median).

Johnson City has the most kids (18.1% under 18).

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	Johnson City
People
Population	434Lowest	14,940Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+1.1% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.3±8.6Highest 16% above U.S.	40.7±3.4Lowest 5% above U.S.
	Peru and Johnson City 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%	18.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	21.4%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Johnson City 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%	29.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	9%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$151,875±$83kHighest 88% above U.S.	$56,283±$4kLowest 30% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$400,000±$105kHighest 20% above U.S.	$117,100±$4kLowest 65% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,271±$820Highest 10% below U.S.	$1,031±$66Lowest 27% below U.S.
	Peru and Johnson City 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.	$3,982Lowest 28% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29%±47.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	57.8%±10.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Johnson City 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%	19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	52.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1949Lowest 31 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 6% above U.S.	17 minLowest 38% below U.S.
Work from home	13.3%±16.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9.7%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Peru and Johnson City 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.