Compare towns
Seward vs Peru vs Decatur
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Seward has the most people working from home (13.1%).
Peru has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Decatur has the oldest population (median age 55.3).
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 | Seward | Peru | Decatur |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,055 |
6,710Highest |
328Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.2%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-3.2%Highest NY: +4.2% |
— |
| Median age | 39.5±8Lowest about the NY average |
40.7±3.6 about the NY average |
55.3±7.6Highest 39% above NY |
| Kids under 18 | 27.2%±3Highest NY: 20.5% |
21.8%±3.4 NY: 20.5% |
14.6%±4.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Seward and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.9%±1.1 NY: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
27.7%±6.1Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.1% NY: 40.2% |
33.2%Highest NY: 40.2% |
23.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.3 NY: 7% |
6.3%±5.4Highest NY: 7% |
4.3%±5Lowest NY: 7% |
| Peru and Seward are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,786±$20k about the NY average |
$101,771±$22kHighest 18% above NY |
$69,375±$19kLowest 19% below NY |
| Peru and Seward are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $198,500±$25k 53% below NY |
$203,200±$38kHighest 52% below NY |
$173,500±$40kLowest 59% below NY |
| Peru and Seward are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,180±$201Highest 27% below NY |
$1,067±$173 34% below NY |
$765±$109Lowest 53% below NY |
| Seward and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,855 41% below NY |
$4,357Highest 34% below NY |
$3,404Lowest 48% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.3%±45.3Lowest NY: 52.1% |
54.8%±25.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
50%±100 NY: 52.1% |
| Peru and Decatur are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.4%Highest NY: 14% |
8.9% NY: 14% |
8%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% NY: 54.3% |
82.7%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
93%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY |
1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY |
1972Lowest 13 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 14% above NY |
21 minLowest 37% below NY |
35 min 6% above NY |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.3Highest NY: 14.9% |
10.2%±4.7 NY: 14.9% |
5.8%±3.3Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Seward 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 | — | #347 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | — | PERU CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | — | PERU HIGH SCHOOL | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NY 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.