Compare towns
Peru vs Putnam vs Andover
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).
Putnam has the most kids (17.4% under 18).
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
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.
| Measure | Peru | Putnam | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 434Lowest |
540 |
616Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 45.3±8.6Lowest 16% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
49.2±5.1 26% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Andover 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% |
17.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Putnam and Andover 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% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $151,875±$83kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$92,344±$14kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$102,500±$38k 27% above U.S. |
| Peru and Andover 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. |
$266,200±$48kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$382,900±$68k 15% above U.S. |
| Peru and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,271±$820Lowest 10% below U.S. |
— | $1,389±$364Highest about the U.S. average |
| Andover 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. |
$3,674Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$5,190Highest 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29%±47.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover 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% |
7.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±16.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school 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.