What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stetson has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.3%).

Peru has the most affordable homes ($141k 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	Stetson	Peru
People
Population	1,151Lowest	1,501Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.3%Highest ME: +2.6%	-3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	42.2±5.1Lowest 6% below ME	48±7.6Highest 7% above ME
	Peru and Stetson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.4%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1%	20.8%±4Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Stetson and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.2%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4%	21.7%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	19.8%Lowest ME: 36.2%	21.7%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±2Lowest ME: 5.8%	3.5%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8%
	Peru and Stetson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$76,023±$28kHighest about the ME average	$66,827±$19kLowest 11% below ME
	Stetson and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$205,700±$34kHighest 31% below ME	$141,300±$38kLowest 52% below ME
	Stetson and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$800±$377Highest 30% below ME	$723±$16Lowest 37% below ME
	Stetson and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,962Highest 35% below ME	$1,799Lowest 41% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	73.7%±42Highest ME: 48.4%	21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Stetson and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.4%Highest ME: 10.7%	9.2%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.9%Lowest ME: 74.3%	90.2%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME	1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 29% above ME	29 minLowest 18% above ME
Work from home	11%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9%	9.2%±4Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Stetson and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	RSU 56
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.