What stands out worked out from the figures below

Schroeppel has the most kids (22.6% 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	Schroeppel	Peru
People
Population	7,938Highest	434Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.3% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	45.3±2.5 16% above U.S.	45.3±8.6 16% above U.S.
Kids under 18	22.6%±3Highest U.S.: 22%	8.5%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	19.8%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21.4%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Peru and Schroeppel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	54.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Schroeppel and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$73,082±$9kLowest 9% below U.S.	$151,875±$83kHighest 88% above U.S.
	Peru and Schroeppel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$188,400±$14kLowest 43% below U.S.	$400,000±$105kHighest 20% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$972±$69Lowest 31% below U.S.	$1,271±$820Highest 10% below U.S.
	Peru and Schroeppel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,546Lowest 46% above U.S.	$5,000Highest 60% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	29%±47.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Schroeppel and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	15%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	79%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.	28 minHighest 6% above U.S.
Work from home	9.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13.3%±16.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Peru and Schroeppel 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	#277 of 484 in NY	—
School district	PHOENIX CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	—
High school in town	JOHN C BIRDLEBOUGH HIGH SCHOOL	—
Students per teacherat that high school	9.9	—
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.