Compare towns
Buckfield 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
Buckfield has the most expensive homes ($228k median).
Peru has the most affordable homes ($141k median).
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 | Buckfield | Peru | Sumner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,403Highest |
1,501 |
845Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% ME: +2.6% |
-3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±10.1Lowest 16% below ME |
48±7.6 7% above ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
| Sumner and Peru 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%±4 ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9Lowest 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%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.7% ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest 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±$19k 11% below ME |
$57,750±$19kLowest 23% 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 |
$150,000±$73k 49% below ME |
| Buckfield and Sumner 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±$16Highest 37% below ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,860Highest 6% below ME |
$1,799Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,167 29% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±55Lowest 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 | 5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
90.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 25% above ME |
29 minLowest 18% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.6%±12.5 ME: 15.9% |
9.2%±4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner and Buckfield 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 10 |
| 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.