What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Lancaster has the most kids (17.8% 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	Lancaster
People
Population	434Lowest	10,113Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-3.1% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.3±8.6Highest 16% above U.S.	45.1±4.7Lowest 16% above U.S.
	Peru and Lancaster 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%	17.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22%
	Lancaster and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.4%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	21%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Peru and Lancaster 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%	26.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.4%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Lancaster and Peru 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.	$66,148±$7kLowest 18% below U.S.
	Peru and Lancaster 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.	$202,200±$16kLowest 39% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,271±$820Highest 10% below U.S.	$969±$169Lowest 31% below U.S.
	Peru and Lancaster 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.	$4,932Lowest 58% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29%±47.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	52%±19Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lancaster 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%	6.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 6% above U.S.	19 minLowest 28% below U.S.
Work from home	13.3%±16.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	7%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Peru and Lancaster 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.