What stands out worked out from the figures below

Millinocket has the most affordable homes ($104k median).

Peru has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.4%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Millinocket	Peru
People
Population	4,115Highest	1,501Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-8.7%Lowest ME: +2.6%	-3.4%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	54.2±6.2Highest 21% above ME	48±7.6Lowest 7% above ME
	Millinocket and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.1%±5.9Lowest ME: 18.1%	20.8%±4Highest ME: 18.1%
	Peru and Millinocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	36.2%±8.2Highest ME: 22.4%	21.7%±3.8Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	18.6%Lowest ME: 36.2%	21.7%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8%	3.5%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Millinocket and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$51,007±$9kLowest 32% below ME	$66,827±$19kHighest 11% below ME
	Peru and Millinocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$103,800±$26kLowest 65% below ME	$141,300±$38kHighest 52% below ME
	Peru and Millinocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$451±$130Lowest 60% below ME	$723±$16Highest 37% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,580Lowest 48% below ME	$1,799Highest 41% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	20.5%±11Lowest ME: 48.4%	21.7%±37.5Highest ME: 48.4%
	Peru and Millinocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	17.1%Highest ME: 10.7%	9.2%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.1%Lowest ME: 74.3%	90.2%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Lowest 21 yrs older than ME	1974Highest 3 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest about the ME average	29 minHighest 18% above ME
Work from home	6.6%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9%	9.2%±4Highest ME: 15.9%
	Peru and Millinocket 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	#98 of 133 in ME	—
School district	Millinocket Public Schools	RSU 56
High school in town	Stearns Jr-Sr High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.6	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.