Compare towns
Canton vs Chesterville vs Peru
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.6%).
Chesterville has the most kids (31.3% under 18).
Peru has the oldest population (median age 48).
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 | Canton | Chesterville | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,191Lowest |
1,397 |
1,501Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.8% ME: +2.6% |
-3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.4±7.2 8% below ME |
37.8±4Lowest 16% below ME |
48±7.6Highest 7% above ME |
| Peru and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±4.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
31.3%±6.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.8%±4 ME: 18.1% |
| Chesterville and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.7%±6.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
15%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.7%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
| Canton and Peru 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% |
20.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
21.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
2.3%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Peru and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $52,458±$35kLowest 30% below ME |
$61,635±$10k 18% below ME |
$66,827±$19kHighest 11% below ME |
| Peru and Chesterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $165,000±$50k 44% below ME |
$214,000±$40kHighest 28% below ME |
$141,300±$38kLowest 52% below ME |
| Chesterville and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $485±$18Lowest 57% below ME |
$1,088±$73Highest 4% below ME |
$723±$16 37% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,277Highest 25% below ME |
$2,194 28% below ME |
$1,799Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 88.9%±33.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
21.8%±30.8 ME: 48.4% |
21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 8.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
86.4% ME: 74.3% |
90.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 2 yrs older than ME |
1978Highest 1 yr newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 42% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
29 min 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 16.1%±6.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
7.1%±3.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
9.2%±4 ME: 15.9% |
| Canton and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | RSU 56 |
| High school 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.