Compare towns
Lee vs Peru vs Springfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lee has the most people working from home (11.9%).
Peru has the highest household income ($67k).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($123k 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 | Lee | Peru | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 925 |
1,501Highest |
310Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 51.5±11.5 15% above ME |
48±7.6Lowest 7% above ME |
52.4±7Highest 17% above ME |
| Springfield and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±4.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.8%±4 ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±5.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Lee and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.7%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
21.6%±5.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Lee and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
21.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
17.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
0.6%±3.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Lee and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $49,886±$5kLowest 33% below ME |
$66,827±$19kHighest 11% below ME |
$60,833±$23k 19% below ME |
| Peru and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $174,500±$25kHighest 41% below ME |
$141,300±$38k 52% below ME |
$122,500±$28kLowest 59% below ME |
| Lee and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $723±$16 37% below ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,547 49% below ME |
$1,799Highest 41% below ME |
$1,067Lowest 65% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 80%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
— |
| Lee and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.2% ME: 10.7% |
5.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest ME: 74.3% |
90.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
96.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 41% above ME |
29 minLowest 18% above ME |
30 min 21% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.9%±4.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.2%±4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
9.6%±5.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Lee and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 30/MSAD 30 | RSU 56 | — |
| High school 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.