What stands out worked out from the figures below

Salem has the most kids (16.2% under 18).

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

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	Salem	Peru
People
Population	2,611Highest	434Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.8% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	47.5±4.2Highest 22% above U.S.	45.3±8.6Lowest 16% above U.S.
	Salem and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%	8.5%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Salem and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.9%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	21.4%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Salem and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	54.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Salem and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$83,398±$12kLowest 3% above U.S.	$151,875±$83kHighest 88% above U.S.
	Peru and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$196,000±$26kLowest 41% below U.S.	$400,000±$105kHighest 20% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$948±$40Lowest 33% below U.S.	$1,271±$820Highest 10% below U.S.
	Peru and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,908Lowest 25% above U.S.	$5,000Highest 60% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.1%±7.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	29%±47.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Salem and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	79%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.	28 minLowest 6% above U.S.
Work from home	22.8%±12.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.3%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Salem and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#376 of 484 in NY	—
School district	SALEM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	—
High school in town	SALEM HIGH SCHOOL	—
Students per teacherat that high school	8.5	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.