Compare towns
Mexico vs Peru vs Danforth
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mexico has the youngest population (median age 43.4).
Peru has the most people working from home (9.2%).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($85k 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 | Mexico | Peru | Danforth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,782Highest |
1,501 |
452Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 43.4±2.8Lowest 3% below ME |
48±7.6 7% above ME |
51.9±5.3Highest 16% above ME |
| Danforth and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
20.8%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.8%±6.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Peru and Mexico are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.3%±4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.7%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Danforth and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 13% ME: 36.2% |
21.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
4.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Mexico and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $55,727±$9k 25% below ME |
$66,827±$19kHighest 11% below ME |
$42,264±$11kLowest 43% below ME |
| Peru and Mexico are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $110,800±$10k 63% below ME |
$141,300±$38kHighest 52% below ME |
$85,200±$20kLowest 71% below ME |
| Peru and Mexico are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,027±$275Highest 10% below ME |
$723±$16 37% below ME |
$629±$22Lowest 45% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,961Highest 35% below ME |
$1,799Lowest 41% below ME |
— |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.8%±17.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
21.7%±37.5 ME: 48.4% |
11.5%±71.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Mexico and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 19 yrs older than ME |
1974 3 yrs older than ME |
1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the ME average |
29 minHighest 18% above ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
| Work from home | 5.6%±3.6 ME: 15.9% |
9.2%±4Highest ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Peru and Mexico 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 | #130 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Rumford-Region 9 · RSU 10 | 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.