Compare towns
Peru vs Appleton vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Peru has the most kids (20.8% under 18).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Washington has the most people working from home (14.6%).
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 | Peru | Appleton | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,501 |
1,360Lowest |
1,624Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48±7.6Lowest 7% above ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
48.2±6.7 8% above ME |
| Appleton and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
14.2%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Peru and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.3%±4.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
17.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,827±$19kHighest 11% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$59,861±$17k 20% below ME |
| Peru and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $141,300±$38kLowest 52% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$195,200±$36k 34% below ME |
| Appleton and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $723±$16Lowest 37% below ME |
$1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$1,036±$322 9% below ME |
| Appleton and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,799Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,286 25% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
55.3%±62.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
15.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 18% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
32 minHighest 30% above ME |
| Work from home | 9.2%±4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
14.6%±5.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Washington and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 56 | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| 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.