Compare towns
Baldwin vs Peru vs Sumner vs Dixmont
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%).
Dixmont has the most people working from home (21.9%).
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 | Dixmont |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,170 |
1,501Highest |
845Lowest |
1,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3% ME: +2.6% |
-3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.5% 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 |
50.9±4.7 14% above ME |
| Sumner and Dixmont 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% |
15.9%±4.2 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%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
19.4%±4.7Lowest 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% ME: 36.2% |
21.7% ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
24.7%Highest 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% |
4.1%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Baldwin and Dixmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $68,045±$8k 9% below ME |
$66,827±$19k 11% below ME |
$57,750±$19kLowest 23% below ME |
$75,952±$14kHighest about the ME average |
| Dixmont and Baldwin 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 |
$190,700±$22k 36% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $723±$16Lowest 37% below ME |
— | $1,348±$62Highest 18% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,540Highest 16% below ME |
$1,799 41% below ME |
$2,167 29% below ME |
$1,548Lowest 49% 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% |
42.2%±70.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Dixmont 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% |
7.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.2% ME: 74.3% |
91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 32% above ME |
29 minLowest 18% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
35 min 40% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.8%±4.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
9.2%±4 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8 ME: 15.9% |
21.9%±11.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Dixmont and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | RSU 56 | RSU 10 | RSU 19 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.