Compare towns
Washington vs Middlesex 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 oldest population (median age 56.5).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
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 | Middlesex | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 526Lowest |
1,943Highest |
630 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.5±7.7Highest 45% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest 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% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex 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±$12k 18% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$90,750±$18kLowest 12% above U.S. |
| Middlesex 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±$32k 11% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$267,400±$15kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,381 40% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$3,805Lowest 22% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| 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.