Compare towns

Anson vs Peru vs Brownville

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Anson has the highest household income ($88k).
Peru has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.4%).
Brownville has the most affordable homes ($97k 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.

MeasureAnsonPeruBrownville
People
Population
680Lowest
1,501Highest
983
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-9.6%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
-3.4%Highest
ME: +2.6%
-8.9%
ME: +2.6%
Median age
43.3±15.2Lowest
3% below ME
48±7.6Highest
7% above ME
46.5±4.6
4% above ME
Peru and Brownville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
26.2%±5Highest
ME: 18.1%
20.8%±4
ME: 18.1%
19%±6.2Lowest
ME: 18.1%
Anson and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
8.2%±5.3Lowest
ME: 22.4%
21.7%±3.8
ME: 22.4%
28.1%±5.3Highest
ME: 22.4%
Brownville and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
5.3%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
21.7%Highest
ME: 36.2%
13.4%
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0%±2.3Lowest
ME: 5.8%
3.5%±1.9
ME: 5.8%
4.1%±3.6Highest
ME: 5.8%
Brownville and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$87,770±$61kHighest
17% above ME
$66,827±$19k
11% below ME
$64,063±$15kLowest
14% below ME
Anson and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$100,400±$28k
66% below ME
$141,300±$38kHighest
52% below ME
$96,700±$22kLowest
67% below ME
Peru and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$914±$247
20% below ME
$723±$16Lowest
37% below ME
$1,057±$120Highest
7% below ME
Brownville and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$1,207Lowest
60% below ME
$1,799Highest
41% below ME
$1,250
59% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
31.8%±37.5Highest
ME: 48.4%
21.7%±37.5Lowest
ME: 48.4%
26.2%±19.2
ME: 48.4%
Anson and Brownville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.7%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
9.2%
ME: 10.7%
18.3%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
60.7%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
90.2%Highest
ME: 74.3%
77.7%
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1950Lowest
27 yrs older than ME
1974Highest
3 yrs older than ME
1955
22 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
26% above ME
29 minLowest
18% above ME
37 minHighest
49% above ME
Work from home
0%±4.1Lowest
ME: 15.9%
9.2%±4Highest
ME: 15.9%
6.8%±4.5
ME: 15.9%
Peru and Brownville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — RSU 56 RSU 41/MSAD 41
High school in town — None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

ME 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.