Compare towns
Dedham 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
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($356k 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 | Dedham | Peru | Sumner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,656Highest |
1,501 |
845Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2% ME: +2.6% |
-3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.5±2.2Lowest 4% above 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 | 23.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.8%±4 ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Dedham and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±2.9Lowest 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+ | 49.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.7% ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Peru and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,442±$18kHighest 49% above ME |
$66,827±$19k 11% below ME |
$57,750±$19kLowest 23% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $356,400±$33kHighest 20% above ME |
$141,300±$38kLowest 52% below ME |
$150,000±$73k 49% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,422±$607Highest 25% above ME |
$723±$16Lowest 37% below ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,942Highest 30% above ME |
$1,799Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,167 29% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13%±85.3Lowest 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 | 9% ME: 10.7% |
9.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%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 | 30 min 22% above ME |
29 minLowest 18% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
| Work from home | 9.3%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
9.2%±4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Dedham 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 |
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.