Compare towns
Springfield vs Peru vs Grafton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Springfield has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
Grafton has the most kids (21% under 18).
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 | Springfield | Peru | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,122 |
434Lowest |
1,354Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
45.3±8.6 16% above U.S. |
43.1±10.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Springfield and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±8 U.S.: 22% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Grafton 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% |
21.4%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Peru and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Grafton and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,893±$19k 25% above U.S. |
$151,875±$83kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$81,563±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Peru and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $384,100±$50k 15% above U.S. |
$400,000±$105kHighest 20% above U.S. |
$267,300±$23kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Peru and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$217Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,271±$820Highest 10% below U.S. |
$1,243±$163 12% below U.S. |
| Peru and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,946Highest 91% above U.S. |
$5,000Lowest 60% above U.S. |
$5,239 68% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.9%±64.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
29%±47.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.1%±34.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Grafton and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 30% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
43 minHighest 64% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.7%±11.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Grafton and Springfield 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 | 6 photos → |
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.