What stands out worked out from the figures below

Springfield has the most people working from home (16.7%).

Peru has the most affordable homes ($267k 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	Springfield	Peru
People
Population	1,122Highest	630Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	51.4±8.8Lowest 32% above U.S.	52.6±4.8Highest 35% above U.S.
	Peru and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.1%±8Lowest U.S.: 22%	16.3%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Peru and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.8%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	29.7%±6.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	28%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.2%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Peru and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$100,893±$19kHighest 25% above U.S.	$90,750±$18kLowest 12% above U.S.
	Springfield and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$384,100±$50kHighest 15% above U.S.	$267,400±$15kLowest 20% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,096±$217 22% below U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,946Highest 91% above U.S.	$3,805Lowest 22% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	25.9%±64.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Springfield and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.	1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 30% above U.S.	31 minLowest 18% above U.S.
Work from home	16.7%±11.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.3%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Springfield and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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.