What stands out worked out from the figures below

Somerville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.5%).

Peru has the most people working from home (9.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Somerville	Peru
People
Population	837Lowest	1,501Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.5%Highest ME: +2.6%	-3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	33.5±11.3Lowest 25% below ME	48±7.6Highest 7% above ME
	Peru and Somerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	28.8%±7Highest ME: 18.1%	20.8%±4Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Somerville and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	13.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4%	21.7%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.7%Highest ME: 36.2%	21.7%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8%	3.5%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8%
	Peru and Somerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$71,250±$15kHighest 5% below ME	$66,827±$19kLowest 11% below ME
	Somerville and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$218,100±$41kHighest 26% below ME	$141,300±$38kLowest 52% below ME
	Somerville and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,583±$265Highest 39% above ME	$723±$16Lowest 37% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,505Highest 17% below ME	$1,799Lowest 41% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65.7%±58.5Highest ME: 48.4%	21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Somerville and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	17%Highest ME: 10.7%	9.2%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%	90.2%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME	1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 9% above ME	29 minHighest 18% above ME
Work from home	3.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 15.9%	9.2%±4Highest ME: 15.9%
	Peru and Somerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 12	RSU 56
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

ME 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.