Compare towns
Canton vs Lisbon 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%).
Lisbon has the most expensive homes ($258k median).
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 | Lisbon | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,191Lowest |
9,750Highest |
1,501 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.8% ME: +2.6% |
-3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.4±7.2 8% below ME |
38.4±2.9Lowest 14% 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% |
22.2%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.8%±4 ME: 18.1% |
| Lisbon 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% |
16.2%±3.2Lowest 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% |
23.4% ME: 36.2% |
21.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.3%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Lisbon and Peru 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 |
$77,819±$9kHighest 4% above ME |
$66,827±$19k 11% below ME |
| Lisbon and Peru 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 |
$258,300±$26kHighest 13% below ME |
$141,300±$38kLowest 52% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $485±$18Lowest 57% below ME |
$979±$286Highest 14% below ME |
$723±$16 37% below ME |
| Lisbon and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,277 25% below ME |
$3,324Highest 9% above ME |
$1,799Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 88.9%±33.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
43.4%±14.2 ME: 48.4% |
21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Canton and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.4% ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.4% ME: 74.3% |
74.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 2 yrs older than ME |
1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
1974 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 42% above ME |
29 minLowest 17% above ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 16.1%±6.4 ME: 15.9% |
18.1%±9.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.2%±4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Lisbon and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #60 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | Lisbon Public Schools | RSU 56 |
| High school in town | — | Lisbon High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 15.8 |
— |
| 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.