What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Plainfield has the most kids (15.6% 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	Plainfield
People
Population	434Lowest	1,016Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+0.8% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.3±8.6Highest 16% above U.S.	34.5±6.6Lowest 11% below U.S.
	Peru and Plainfield 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%	15.6%±2.8Highest U.S.: 22%
	Plainfield 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%	14.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Peru and Plainfield 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%	28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	14.9%±11.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Plainfield 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.	$70,673±$6kLowest 12% below U.S.
	Peru and Plainfield 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.	$155,100±$17kLowest 53% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,271±$820Highest 10% below U.S.	$750±$207Lowest 47% below U.S.
	Peru and Plainfield 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.	$2,667Lowest 14% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29%±47.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	40.6%±43.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Plainfield 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%	7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 6% above U.S.	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.
Work from home	13.3%±16.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Peru and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
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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.