Compare towns
Peru vs Canton vs Sumner
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 shortest commute (29 min average).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.6%).
Sumner has the oldest population (median age 56.1).
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 | Canton | Sumner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,501Highest |
1,191 |
845Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+13.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.9% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48±7.6 7% above ME |
41.4±7.2Lowest 8% below ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
| Sumner and Peru 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% |
20.4%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Peru and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±3.8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27.7%±6.6 ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner and Canton 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% |
23.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Peru and Canton 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 |
$52,458±$35kLowest 30% below ME |
$57,750±$19k 23% below ME |
| Peru and Sumner 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 |
$165,000±$50kHighest 44% below ME |
$150,000±$73k 49% below ME |
| Canton and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $723±$16Highest 37% below ME |
$485±$18Lowest 57% below ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,799Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,277Highest 25% below ME |
$2,167 29% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
88.9%±33.8 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.4% ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% ME: 74.3% |
81.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1975 2 yrs older than ME |
1977Highest same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 18% above ME |
35 min 42% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
| Work from home | 9.2%±4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
16.1%±6.4 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 56 | — | RSU 10 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.