Compare towns

Washington vs Florida vs Peru

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Washington has the most expensive homes ($371k median).
Florida has the most affordable homes ($247k median).
Peru has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.9%).

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.

MeasureWashingtonFloridaPeru
People
Population
526Lowest
668Highest
630
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-8.2%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
-7.7%
MA: +7.4%
-3.9%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
56.5±7.7Highest
41% above MA
56.1±4.4
40% above MA
52.6±4.8Lowest
32% above MA
Washington and Florida are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
13.3%±5.9
MA: 19.4%
11.5%±3.1Lowest
MA: 19.4%
16.3%±3.5Highest
MA: 19.4%
Peru and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
35.4%±1.5Highest
MA: 17.9%
30.1%±4.6
MA: 17.9%
29.7%±6.9Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Washington and Florida are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
32.1%Highest
MA: 47.3%
24.3%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
28%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.3%±1.8Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4.2%±2.6Highest
MA: 7.9%
3.2%±2
MA: 7.9%
Florida and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$95,278±$12kHighest
8% below MA
$86,875±$17kLowest
16% below MA
$90,750±$18k
13% below MA
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
34% below MA
$246,800±$19kLowest
56% below MA
$267,400±$15k
52% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$867±$256
51% below MA
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,381Highest
27% below MA
$1,894Lowest
68% below MA
$3,805
36% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
MA: 51.8%
16.7%±100Highest
MA: 51.8%
0%±100Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Florida 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
MA: 10%
5.8%Highest
MA: 10%
3.2%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.5%
MA: 62.5%
91.3%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
98.2%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Lowest
10 yrs newer than MA
1978
14 yrs newer than MA
1983Highest
19 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
13% below MA
26 min
10% below MA
31 minHighest
7% above MA
Work from home
12.9%±10.3Highest
MA: 18.6%
6.4%±2.6Lowest
MA: 18.6%
10.3%±4.8
MA: 18.6%
Washington and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Florida —
High school in town — None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

MA 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.