Compare towns

Peru vs Middlesex 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).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Union has the most affordable homes ($268k median).

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.

MeasurePeruMiddlesexUnion
People
Population
434Lowest
1,943
2,663Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+2.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.3±8.6Highest
16% above U.S.
44.4±3.9
14% above U.S.
41.6±5.3Lowest
7% above U.S.
Peru and Middlesex 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%
21.3%±3.1
U.S.: 22%
24.9%±4Highest
U.S.: 22%
Union and Middlesex 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%
20.6%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.4%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
54.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
54.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.4%Lowest
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%
Middlesex 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.
$109,632±$13k
36% above U.S.
$80,724±$9kLowest
about the U.S. average
Peru and Middlesex 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.
$376,300±$40k
13% above U.S.
$267,600±$42kLowest
20% below U.S.
Peru and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,271±$820
10% below U.S.
$1,333±$359Highest
6% below U.S.
$1,179±$452Lowest
17% below U.S.
Middlesex and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,000
60% above U.S.
$6,483Highest
108% above U.S.
$3,276Lowest
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%
3.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
10.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
96.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1979Lowest
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
6% above U.S.
27 minLowest
4% above U.S.
29 minHighest
11% above U.S.
Work from home
13.3%±16.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
28.4%±10.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.9%±5.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Middlesex and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 RSU 40/MSAD 40
High school in town — None 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.