What stands out worked out from the figures below

Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).

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	Surry	Peru
People
Population	1,836Highest	1,501Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6%	-3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	52.4±5.6Highest 17% above ME	48±7.6Lowest 7% above ME
	Surry and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.6%±3.7Lowest ME: 18.1%	20.8%±4Highest ME: 18.1%
	Peru and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30.9%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4%	21.7%±3.8Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	38.1%Highest ME: 36.2%	21.7%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2%±1Lowest ME: 5.8%	3.5%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8%
	Peru and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,508±$12kHighest about the ME average	$66,827±$19kLowest 11% below ME
	Surry and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$296,300±$36kHighest about the ME average	$141,300±$38kLowest 52% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$969±$129Highest 15% below ME	$723±$16Lowest 37% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,903Highest 37% below ME	$1,799Lowest 41% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65.8%±59.5Highest ME: 48.4%	21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Surry and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7%Lowest ME: 10.7%	9.2%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%	90.2%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME	1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 26% above ME	29 minLowest 18% above ME
Work from home	11.4%±5Highest ME: 15.9%	9.2%±4Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Surry and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Surry Public Schools	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.