Compare towns
Limerick vs Peru vs Sumner vs China
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Limerick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Peru has the most affordable homes ($141k median).
Sumner has the most people working from home (18.5%).
China has the most homeowners (91.8%).
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 | Limerick | Peru | Sumner | China |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,400 |
1,501 |
845Lowest |
4,526Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.9% ME: +2.6% |
+1.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.4±9.2Lowest 10% below ME |
48±7.6 7% above ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
40.9±5.9 9% below ME |
| Sumner and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±5.5 ME: 18.1% |
20.8%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.4%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Peru and China are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.1%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.7%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±4.4 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+ | 27.5% ME: 36.2% |
21.7% ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
31.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.6%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Peru and China are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,172±$15kHighest 35% above ME |
$66,827±$19k 11% below ME |
$57,750±$19kLowest 23% below ME |
$96,309±$12k 29% above ME |
| Limerick and China are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,400±$29kHighest 9% below ME |
$141,300±$38kLowest 52% below ME |
$150,000±$73k 49% below ME |
$240,000±$37k 19% below ME |
| Limerick and China are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,758±$407Highest 54% above ME |
$723±$16Lowest 37% below ME |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,520 17% below ME |
$1,799Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,167 29% below ME |
$2,535Highest 17% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.8%±14.2 ME: 48.4% |
21.7%±37.5 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
10.6%±25.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Limerick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.9% ME: 10.7% |
9.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.2% ME: 74.3% |
91.1% ME: 74.3% |
91.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1994Highest 17 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 min 53% above ME |
29 minLowest 18% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
30 min 21% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.2%±6.7 ME: 15.9% |
9.2%±4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
12.6%±4.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner and Limerick 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 | — | — | — | #27 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | RSU 56 | RSU 10 | RSU 18 |
| 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 | 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.