Compare towns

Windham vs Peru vs Worcester

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k median).
Peru has the most affordable homes ($203k median).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).

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.

MeasureWindhamPeruWorcester
People
Population
594Lowest
6,710Highest
831
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-3.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.2±7.4
14% above U.S.
40.7±3.6Lowest
5% above U.S.
47±2.7Highest
21% above U.S.
Worcester and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.5%±7.9
U.S.: 22%
21.8%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
12.8%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Peru and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.2%±8.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.4%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.5%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Windham and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
33.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
53%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.3%±5.4
U.S.: 6.4%
6.9%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Worcester and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$94,500±$12k
17% above U.S.
$101,771±$22kHighest
26% above U.S.
$73,833±$18kLowest
9% below U.S.
Peru and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$353,900±$20kHighest
6% above U.S.
$203,200±$38kLowest
39% below U.S.
$271,100±$27k
19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,067±$173Highest
24% below U.S.
$1,023±$136Lowest
28% below U.S.
Peru and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,951Highest
91% above U.S.
$4,357Lowest
40% above U.S.
$4,421
42% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.2%±94
U.S.: 51.1%
54.8%±25.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
25.5%±37Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Peru and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
82.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
21 minLowest
22% below U.S.
29 minHighest
9% above U.S.
Work from home
20.5%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
10.2%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.6%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Worcester and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #347 of 484 in NY —
School district — PERU CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
High school in town — PERU HIGH SCHOOL None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.7
—
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.