Compare towns
Dexter 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
Dexter has the most renters (33.7% rent).
Peru has the most kids (20.8% under 18).
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 | Dexter | Peru | Sumner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,822Highest |
1,501 |
845Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4% ME: +2.6% |
-3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51±6.8 14% above ME |
48±7.6Lowest 7% above ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
| Sumner and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.8%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9 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+ | 19.7%±4.4Lowest 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+ | 16.9% ME: 36.2% |
21.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Peru and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $51,845±$18kLowest 31% below ME |
$66,827±$19kHighest 11% below ME |
$57,750±$19k 23% 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 | $170,600±$52kHighest 42% below ME |
$141,300±$38kLowest 52% below ME |
$150,000±$73k 49% below ME |
| Dexter and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $838±$119Highest 26% below ME |
$723±$16Lowest 37% below ME |
— |
| Dexter and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,186Highest 28% below ME |
$1,799Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,167 29% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.2%±20.6 ME: 48.4% |
21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 23.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.2% ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.2% ME: 74.3% |
91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 1 yr older than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1977Highest same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 7% below ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.1%±8 ME: 15.9% |
9.2%±4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner and Dexter 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 | #113 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | MSAD 46 | RSU 56 | RSU 10 |
| High school in town | Dexter Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.3 |
— | — |
| 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.