Compare towns
Washington vs Brookline vs Peru
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the most expensive homes ($371k median).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Peru has the most affordable homes ($267k 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.
| Measure | Washington | Brookline | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 526Lowest |
531 |
630Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.5±7.7Highest 45% above U.S. |
45.1±2.7Lowest 16% above U.S. |
52.6±4.8 35% above U.S. |
| Washington and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 35.4%±1.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washington and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,278±$12kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$80,833±$16kLowest about the U.S. average |
$90,750±$18k 12% above U.S. |
| Washington and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $370,700±$32kHighest 11% above U.S. |
$290,700±$37k 13% below U.S. |
$267,400±$15kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,732±$232 23% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,381 40% above U.S. |
$5,000Highest 60% above U.S. |
$3,805Lowest 22% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brookline and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.