Compare towns
Danforth vs Mexico vs Peru
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($90k median).
Mexico has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Peru has the most people working from home (9.2%).
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 | Danforth | Mexico | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 666Lowest |
2,782Highest |
1,501 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3% ME: +2.6% |
+2.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.1±4.4Highest 19% above ME |
43.4±2.8Lowest 3% below ME |
48±7.6 7% above ME |
| Danforth and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.8%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
20.8%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Peru and Mexico are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
20.3%±4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.7%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
| Danforth and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
13% ME: 36.2% |
21.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.5%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Mexico and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $48,125±$8kLowest 36% below ME |
$55,727±$9k 25% below ME |
$66,827±$19kHighest 11% below ME |
| Peru and Mexico are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME |
$110,800±$10k 63% below ME |
$141,300±$38kHighest 52% below ME |
| Peru and Mexico are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $629±$29Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,027±$275Highest 10% below ME |
$723±$16 37% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
$1,961Highest 35% below ME |
$1,799 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±57.5 ME: 48.4% |
62.8%±17.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Mexico and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.9% ME: 10.7% |
19.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6% ME: 74.3% |
77%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1958Lowest 19 yrs older than ME |
1974 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 15% above ME |
24 minLowest about the ME average |
29 minHighest 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 5.8%±3.4 ME: 15.9% |
5.6%±3.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
9.2%±4Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Peru and Danforth 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 | — | #130 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | Rumford-Region 9 · RSU 10 | RSU 56 |
| High school in town | — | None 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.