Compare towns
Buckfield vs Peru vs Leeds
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
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).
Leeds has the most kids (30.6% under 18).
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 | Buckfield | Peru | Leeds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,403Highest |
1,501Lowest |
2,285 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-2.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±10.1Lowest 16% below ME |
48±7.6Highest 7% above ME |
38.2±8.3 15% below ME |
| Peru and Leeds are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25.7%±7.7 ME: 18.1% |
20.8%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
30.6%±9.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Leeds and Buckfield 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% |
14.8%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
23% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
7.4%±3.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Leeds and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,917±$41k 4% above ME |
$66,827±$19kLowest 11% below ME |
$85,208±$14kHighest 14% above ME |
| Leeds and Buckfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,700±$18k 23% below ME |
$141,300±$38kLowest 52% below ME |
$257,800±$27kHighest 13% below ME |
| Leeds and Buckfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $521±$33Lowest 54% below ME |
$723±$16 37% below ME |
$940±$461Highest 17% below ME |
| Leeds and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,860Highest 6% below ME |
$1,799Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,565 16% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±55Lowest ME: 48.4% |
21.7%±37.5 ME: 48.4% |
27.1%±11.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Leeds and Peru 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% ME: 10.7% |
19.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
90.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 25% above ME |
29 minLowest 18% above ME |
34 minHighest 37% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.6%±12.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.2%±4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Buckfield and Leeds are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 10 | RSU 56 | RSU 52/MSAD 52 |
| High school in town | Buckfield Jr-Sr High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.2 |
— | — |
| 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.