Compare towns
Seward vs Peru vs Sharon
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.2%).
Sharon has the most affordable homes ($175k 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.
| Measure | Seward | Peru | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,055 |
6,710Highest |
1,656Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.2%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-3.2%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-8.1% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 39.5±8Lowest about the NY average |
40.7±3.6Highest about the NY average |
40.5±4.1 about the NY average |
| Peru and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.2%±3Highest NY: 20.5% |
21.8%±3.4Lowest NY: 20.5% |
23.9%±3.6 NY: 20.5% |
| Seward and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.9%±1.1Highest NY: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
17.5%±2 NY: 17.9% |
| Seward and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.1% NY: 40.2% |
33.2%Highest NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.3 NY: 7% |
6.3%±5.4Highest NY: 7% |
4.5%±2.2Lowest 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 |
$68,095±$11kLowest 21% 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 |
$174,600±$25kLowest 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±$173Lowest 34% below NY |
$1,132±$161 30% below NY |
| Seward and Sharon 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 |
$3,255Lowest 51% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.3%±45.3 NY: 52.1% |
54.8%±25.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
22.3%±14.9Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Peru and Seward 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%Lowest NY: 14% |
16.2% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest NY: 54.3% |
82.7% NY: 54.3% |
73.9%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY |
1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY |
1951Lowest 8 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 14% above NY |
21 minLowest 37% below NY |
30 min 7% below NY |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.3Highest NY: 14.9% |
10.2%±4.7 NY: 14.9% |
8.7%±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.