Compare towns
Washington vs Middlefield 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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Middlefield has the highest household income ($104k).
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.
| Measure | Washington | Middlefield | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 526 |
352Lowest |
630Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2% MA: +7.4% |
-26.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-3.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.5±7.7 41% above MA |
56.9±3.7Highest 42% above MA |
52.6±4.8Lowest 32% above MA |
| Middlefield and Washington 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% |
4.5%±9.5Lowest 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% |
28.7%±8.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
29.7%±6.9 MA: 17.9% |
| 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.8% MA: 47.3% |
28%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±4.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Peru and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,278±$12k 8% below MA |
$103,750±$23kHighest about the MA average |
$90,750±$18kLowest 13% below MA |
| Middlefield and Washington 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 |
$332,800±$48k 41% below MA |
$267,400±$15kLowest 52% below MA |
| Washington and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,625±$1k 49% above MA |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,381 27% below MA |
$4,926Highest 18% below MA |
$3,805Lowest 36% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Middlefield 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% |
12.2%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.1% MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 13% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.9%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
13.2%±9.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Middlefield 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 |
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.