What stands out worked out from the figures below

Steuben has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.2%).

Peru has the oldest population (median age 48).

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	Steuben	Peru
People
Population	1,388Lowest	1,501Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.2%Highest ME: +2.6%	-3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	40.1±8.5Lowest 10% below ME	48±7.6Highest 7% above ME
	Peru and Steuben are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.4%±5.4Lowest ME: 18.1%	20.8%±4Highest ME: 18.1%
	Peru and Steuben are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.9%±1Lowest ME: 22.4%	21.7%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	18.9%Lowest ME: 36.2%	21.7%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±1.4Highest ME: 5.8%	3.5%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Steuben and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$76,466±$4kHighest about the ME average	$66,827±$19kLowest 11% below ME
	Steuben and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$173,900±$32kHighest 41% below ME	$141,300±$38kLowest 52% below ME
	Steuben and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$678±$319Lowest 40% below ME	$723±$16Highest 37% below ME
	Peru and Steuben are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,029Highest 33% below ME	$1,799Lowest 41% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	26.3%±87.8Highest ME: 48.4%	21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Steuben and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%	9.2%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.4%Lowest ME: 74.3%	90.2%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 2 yrs newer than ME	1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 14% above ME	29 minHighest 18% above ME
Work from home	11.8%±6.5Highest ME: 15.9%	9.2%±4Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Steuben and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 24	RSU 56
High school in town	None 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.