Compare towns
Baldwin vs Peru vs Sumner
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Baldwin has the most expensive homes ($263k median).
Peru has the most kids (20.8% under 18).
Sumner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
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 | Baldwin | Peru | Sumner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,170 |
1,501Highest |
845Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3% ME: +2.6% |
-3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 50.6±4.6 13% above ME |
48±7.6Lowest 7% above ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
| Sumner and Baldwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.1%±3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.8%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
| Peru and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.7%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
21.7%±3.8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner and Baldwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.7% ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Baldwin and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,045±$8kHighest 9% below ME |
$66,827±$19k 11% below ME |
$57,750±$19kLowest 23% below ME |
| Baldwin and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $263,200±$38kHighest 11% below ME |
$141,300±$38kLowest 52% below ME |
$150,000±$73k 49% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $723±$16 37% below ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,540Highest 16% below ME |
$1,799Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,167 29% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±42.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
21.7%±37.5 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% ME: 10.7% |
9.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.2% ME: 74.3% |
91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 32% above ME |
29 minLowest 18% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.8%±4.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
9.2%±4 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | RSU 56 | RSU 10 |
| 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.