Compare towns
Rowe vs Worcester vs Heath 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).
Worcester has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Heath has the most people working from home (31.7%).
Peru has the most homeowners (98.2%).
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 | Worcester | Heath | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 453Lowest |
831Highest |
765 |
630 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±6.4 26% above U.S. |
47±2.7Lowest 21% above U.S. |
53.8±11.9Highest 38% above U.S. |
52.6±4.8 35% above U.S. |
| Heath and Peru 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% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Rowe and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.6%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Heath and Rowe 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% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
28% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester 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. |
$73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
$98,750±$23kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$90,750±$18k 12% above U.S. |
| Heath 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. |
$271,100±$27k 19% below U.S. |
$295,000±$45kHighest 11% below U.S. |
$267,400±$15kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Heath and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,313±$576Highest 7% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
— | — |
| Rowe and Worcester 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. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
$4,438Highest 42% above U.S. |
$3,805 22% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.8%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Heath and Worcester 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% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
35 min 32% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.2%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.7%±17.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Heath and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| 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 | 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.