What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sullivan has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.4%).

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	Sullivan	Peru
People
Population	1,246Lowest	1,501Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.4%Highest ME: +2.6%	-3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	47.1±15Lowest 5% above ME	48±7.6Highest 7% above ME
	Peru and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18%±5.2Lowest ME: 18.1%	20.8%±4Highest ME: 18.1%
	Peru and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.5%±2.9Highest ME: 22.4%	21.7%±3.8Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Sullivan and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26%Highest ME: 36.2%	21.7%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±4Highest ME: 5.8%	3.5%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Sullivan and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$59,643±$14kLowest 20% below ME	$66,827±$19kHighest 11% below ME
	Peru and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$222,000±$33kHighest 25% below ME	$141,300±$38kLowest 52% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$883±$114Highest 22% below ME	$723±$16Lowest 37% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,228Highest 27% below ME	$1,799Lowest 41% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	34.9%±23.6Highest ME: 48.4%	21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Sullivan and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.6%Highest ME: 10.7%	9.2%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%	90.2%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME	1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 7% above ME	29 minHighest 18% above ME
Work from home	12.6%±7.9Highest ME: 15.9%	9.2%±4Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Sullivan 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	Sumner Memorial High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	10.5	—
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.