Compare towns
Jefferson 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
Jefferson has the most expensive homes ($312k median).
Peru has the most affordable homes ($141k median).
Sumner has the most people working from home (18.5%).
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 | Jefferson | Peru | Sumner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,647Highest |
1,501 |
845Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% ME: +2.6% |
-3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 38.1±4.9Lowest 15% below 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 | 28%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.8%±4 ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Jefferson and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±3.5Lowest 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+ | 27.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.7% ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Jefferson and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,078±$17kHighest 14% above ME |
$66,827±$19k 11% below ME |
$57,750±$19kLowest 23% below ME |
| Jefferson and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $311,600±$35kHighest 5% above ME |
$141,300±$38kLowest 52% below ME |
$150,000±$73k 49% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,120±$130Highest about the ME average |
$723±$16Lowest 37% below ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,587Highest 15% below ME |
$1,799Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,167 29% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.8%±25.1 ME: 48.4% |
21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.2% ME: 74.3% |
91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
29 minLowest 18% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
9.2%±4 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner and Peru 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 | #45 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Jefferson 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.