Compare towns
Cherryfield vs Peru vs Sumner vs Oakfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cherryfield has the most expensive homes ($196k median).
Peru has the most kids (20.8% under 18).
Sumner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Oakfield has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Cherryfield | Peru | Sumner | Oakfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 809 |
1,501Highest |
845 |
629Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.1% ME: +2.6% |
-3.4% ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 58.1±4.2Highest 30% above ME |
48±7.6Lowest 7% above ME |
56.1±8.4 25% above ME |
57.7±6.3 29% above ME |
| Cherryfield and Oakfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.6%±5.3 ME: 18.1% |
20.8%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
10.8%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Peru and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 32.4%±9.6 ME: 22.4% |
21.7%±3.8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2 ME: 22.4% |
36.2%±7.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Oakfield and Cherryfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.4% ME: 36.2% |
21.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15.4% ME: 36.2% |
10.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2.7 ME: 5.8% |
| Peru and Oakfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $37,115±$17kLowest 50% below ME |
$66,827±$19kHighest 11% below ME |
$57,750±$19k 23% below ME |
$46,378±$3k 38% below ME |
| Peru and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $195,800±$53kHighest 34% below ME |
$141,300±$38kLowest 52% below ME |
$150,000±$73k 49% below ME |
$144,300±$46k 51% below ME |
| Cherryfield and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $428±$107Lowest 62% below ME |
$723±$16Highest 37% below ME |
— | $592±$261 48% below ME |
| Peru and Oakfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,950 36% below ME |
$1,799 41% below ME |
$2,167Highest 29% below ME |
$1,272Lowest 58% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.5%±17.8 ME: 48.4% |
21.7%±37.5 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
21.6%±13.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Cherryfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 26.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.2% ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.2% ME: 74.3% |
91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
69.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest same as ME |
1974 3 yrs older than ME |
1977Highest same as ME |
1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 22% above ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
19 minLowest 25% below ME |
| Work from home | 18.2%±10.4 ME: 15.9% |
9.2%±4 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.6%±4.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner and Cherryfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Cherryfield Public Schools | RSU 56 | RSU 10 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.