Compare towns
Rowe vs Middlesex vs Peru
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rowe has the most kids (23% under 18).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Peru has the oldest population (median age 52.6).
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 | Rowe | Middlesex | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 453Lowest |
1,943Highest |
630 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±6.4 26% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
52.6±4.8Highest 35% above U.S. |
| Peru and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Rowe and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rowe and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,583±$13kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$90,750±$18k 12% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $275,000±$41k 17% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$267,400±$15kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,313±$576Lowest 7% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
— |
| Middlesex and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,458Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$3,805 22% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.8%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rowe and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.2%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Rowe | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| 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.


