Compare towns
Dixfield vs Exeter vs Sumner vs Peru
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dixfield has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Exeter has the highest household income ($84k).
Sumner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Peru has the most kids (20.8% under 18).
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 | Dixfield | Exeter | Sumner | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,300Highest |
1,093 |
845Lowest |
1,501 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.6% ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.9±4.4 11% above ME |
52.6±7.7 17% above ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
48±7.6Lowest 7% above ME |
| Sumner and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
20.8%±4Highest 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+ | 21.1%±4.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4 ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.7%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
15.4% ME: 36.2% |
21.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Peru and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,613±$9k 6% below ME |
$84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME |
$57,750±$19kLowest 23% below ME |
$66,827±$19k 11% below ME |
| Exeter and Dixfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $160,900±$24k 46% below ME |
$166,700±$39kHighest 44% below ME |
$150,000±$73k 49% below ME |
$141,300±$38kLowest 52% below ME |
| Exeter and Dixfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $658±$287Lowest 42% below ME |
$995±$386Highest 13% below ME |
— | $723±$16 37% below ME |
| Exeter and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,324Highest 23% below ME |
$1,602Lowest 47% below ME |
$2,167 29% below ME |
$1,799 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48%±20.3 ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Dixfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.1% ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
91.1% ME: 74.3% |
90.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1974 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the ME average |
35 min 43% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 5%±3.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.2%±4 ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 56 | — | RSU 10 | RSU 56 |
| High school in town | Dirigo High School | — | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
— | — | — |
| 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.