What stands out worked out from the figures below

Buckfield has the most people working from home (15.6%).

Peru has the most affordable homes ($141k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Buckfield	Peru
People
Population	2,403Highest	1,501Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.3%Highest ME: +2.6%	-3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	37.7±10.1Lowest 16% below ME	48±7.6Highest 7% above ME
	Peru and Buckfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	25.7%±7.7Highest ME: 18.1%	20.8%±4Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Buckfield and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	13.7%±2.7Lowest ME: 22.4%	21.7%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.5%Highest ME: 36.2%	21.7%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8%	3.5%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8%
	Peru and Buckfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,917±$41kHighest 4% above ME	$66,827±$19kLowest 11% below ME
	Buckfield and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$227,700±$18kHighest 23% below ME	$141,300±$38kLowest 52% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$521±$33Lowest 54% below ME	$723±$16Highest 37% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,860Highest 6% below ME	$1,799Lowest 41% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±55Lowest ME: 48.4%	21.7%±37.5Highest ME: 48.4%
	Peru and Buckfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7%	9.2%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.9%Highest ME: 74.3%	90.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME	1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 25% above ME	29 minLowest 18% above ME
Work from home	15.6%±12.5Highest ME: 15.9%	9.2%±4Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Buckfield and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 10	RSU 56
High school in town	Buckfield Jr-Sr High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	10.2	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.