What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Thurman has the most kids (16.8% 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	Thurman
People
Population	434Lowest	977Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-10.2% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.3±8.6Lowest 16% above U.S.	52.7±3.8Highest 35% above U.S.
	Thurman and Peru 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%	16.8%±4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Thurman and Peru 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%	28.8%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Thurman 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%	24.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Peru and Thurman 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.	$58,750±$14kLowest 27% below U.S.
	Peru and Thurman 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.	$197,400±$43kLowest 41% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,271±$820Lowest 10% below U.S.	$2,175±$599Highest 54% above U.S.
	Thurman and Peru 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.	$2,368Lowest 24% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29%±47.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	23.1%±77.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Peru and Thurman 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%	19.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	92.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 6% above U.S.	33 minHighest 24% above U.S.
Work from home	13.3%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19%±8.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Thurman and Peru 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.