Compare towns
Harmony vs Peru vs Cherryfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Harmony has the most expensive homes ($203k median).
Peru has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.4%).
Cherryfield has the most people working from home (18.2%).
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 | Harmony | Peru | Cherryfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 974 |
1,501Highest |
809Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -12.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.9±2.5 18% above ME |
48±7.6Lowest 7% above ME |
58.1±4.2Highest 30% above ME |
| Cherryfield and Harmony are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±5.2 ME: 18.1% |
20.8%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
11.6%±5.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Peru and Harmony are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±2.5 ME: 22.4% |
21.7%±3.8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
32.4%±9.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Cherryfield and Harmony are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
21.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Peru and Harmony are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $54,063±$13k 28% below ME |
$66,827±$19kHighest 11% below ME |
$37,115±$17kLowest 50% below ME |
| Peru and Harmony are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $202,700±$58kHighest 32% below ME |
$141,300±$38kLowest 52% below ME |
$195,800±$53k 34% below ME |
| Harmony and Cherryfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $723±$16Highest 37% below ME |
$428±$107Lowest 62% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,449Lowest 52% below ME |
$1,799 41% below ME |
$1,950Highest 36% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±100 ME: 48.4% |
21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
60.5%±17.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Cherryfield and Harmony are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.8% ME: 10.7% |
9.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
26.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% ME: 74.3% |
90.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
66.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
1974 3 yrs older than ME |
1977Highest same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 30% above ME |
29 minLowest 18% above ME |
30 min 22% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.8%±8.2 ME: 15.9% |
9.2%±4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.2%±10.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Cherryfield and Harmony are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Harmony Public Schools | RSU 56 | Cherryfield Public Schools |
| 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.