What stands out worked out from the figures below

Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).

Peru has the most affordable homes ($203k 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	Strafford	Peru
People
Population	1,372Lowest	6,710Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S.	40.7±3.6Lowest 5% above U.S.
Kids under 18	23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22%	21.8%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Strafford and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	15.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Strafford and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	33.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.3%±5.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Peru and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S.	$101,771±$22kLowest 26% above U.S.
	Strafford and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S.	$203,200±$38kLowest 39% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,125±$789Highest 20% below U.S.	$1,067±$173Lowest 24% below U.S.
	Strafford and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,149Highest 129% above U.S.	$4,357Lowest 40% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.6%±48Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	54.8%±25.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Peru and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	82.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest same as U.S.	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest 13% below U.S.	21 minLowest 22% below U.S.
Work from home	16.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Strafford and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#347 of 484 in NY
School district	Strafford School District	PERU CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	None in town	PERU HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.7
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.