Compare towns
Jackman vs Peru vs Sumner vs Bingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jackman has the most expensive homes ($173k median).
Peru has the most kids (20.8% under 18).
Sumner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Bingham has the most affordable homes ($103k median).
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 | Jackman | Peru | Sumner | Bingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 695 |
1,501Highest |
845 |
660Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.4% ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-6.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 54.2±5.7 21% above ME |
48±7.6Lowest 7% above ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
56±8.2 25% above ME |
| Sumner and Bingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.5%±6.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.8%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
15.6%±6.8 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+ | 22.7%±6.1 ME: 22.4% |
21.7%±3.8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2 ME: 22.4% |
38.3%±4Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bingham and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.7% ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
22.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±3 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.9%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Peru and Bingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $33,625±$19kLowest 55% below ME |
$66,827±$19kHighest 11% below ME |
$57,750±$19k 23% below ME |
$42,708±$22k 43% 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 | $172,700±$61kHighest 42% below ME |
$141,300±$38k 52% below ME |
$150,000±$73k 49% below ME |
$103,000±$26kLowest 65% below ME |
| Jackman and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $475±$143 58% below ME |
$723±$16Highest 37% below ME |
— | $354±$264Lowest 69% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,492 51% below ME |
$1,799 41% below ME |
$2,167Highest 29% below ME |
$1,059Lowest 65% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±24.5 ME: 48.4% |
21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±45.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Jackman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.9% ME: 10.7% |
9.2% ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
16.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.5% ME: 74.3% |
90.2% ME: 74.3% |
91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 3 yrs older than ME |
1974 3 yrs older than ME |
1977Highest same as ME |
1952Lowest 25 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 11% above ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.3%±6.9 ME: 15.9% |
9.2%±4 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.8%±6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner and Jackman 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 83/MSAD 13 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Upper Kennebec Valley Middle/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 7.3 |
| 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.